Drivers across Devon faced hours of severe disruption after a massive crash on the A38 triggered lane closures, long tailbacks and widespread delays on Saturday, 7 February 2026. The incident, which unfolded on a busy stretch of this key arterial route, caused what witnesses described as near standstill conditions in both directions as emergency services rushed to the scene and traffic officers worked to manage queues that stretched for miles. For locals, tourists and long-distance commuters alike, the crash was a stark reminder of how quickly travel plans in the South West can unravel when a major trunk road grinds to a halt.
What Happened on the A38 in Devon
The crash occurred late morning on 7 February on the A38 in Devon, along a section of carriageway that routinely carries heavy weekend traffic between Exeter, Plymouth and the wider South West. Initial reports from traffic monitoring services indicated that multiple vehicles were involved, prompting an immediate response from Devon and Cornwall Police, paramedics and fire crews. Within minutes, at least one lane in each direction was closed, leading to sharp, rapid congestion in both the eastbound and westbound approaches.
Although full details of the collision are still being confirmed by authorities, the scale of the disruption points to a serious incident that required staged access for emergency services and careful crash scene management. Witnesses described seeing damaged vehicles across the carriageway and central reservation area, with debris scattered across at least one live lane. Traffic officers implemented rolling roadblocks while engineers assessed barrier damage and cleared wreckage.
As the closures bedded in, digital signs along the A38 and adjoining routes warned drivers to expect significant delays and to consider delaying travel where possible. National and local traffic feeds upgraded their alerts from minor congestion to major disruption, a clear signal that the impact would last for several hours rather than a brief rush-hour blip.
How Long the Disruption Lasted
From the first reports of the crash to the eventual easing of congestion, the disruption unfolded over several hours, impacting both lunchtime and early afternoon travel. Real-time traffic services initially forecast that normal traffic conditions might resume by early afternoon, but the severity of the incident, combined with the need for forensic investigation work, meant that the chaos persisted longer than early estimates suggested.
Queues built rapidly along the A38, with eastbound congestion reported between the junctions with the A383 and A382 as traffic backed up behind the partial closure. Drivers reported being stuck in near stationary traffic for extended periods, with many describing journeys that took two or three times longer than usual. Some motorists attempted to divert via local B roads and rural lanes, but these alternatives quickly became saturated, leading to secondary congestion across parts of Devon’s local network.
By mid to late afternoon, once the damaged vehicles had been removed and emergency teams were confident it was safe to do so, lanes gradually reopened. However, as is often the case with major incidents on trunk roads, the traffic hangover lingered for some time afterward. Residual delays continued as the long queues worked their way through pinch points and as traffic patterns slowly reset to normal flows.
Impact on Drivers, Commuters and Tourism
The timing of the crash on a Saturday added an extra layer of disruption, affecting not just local residents but also visitors heading to and from Devon’s coastal towns and countryside. The A38 is a primary lifeline for leisure traffic connecting Exeter with destinations such as Dartmoor, the South Hams, Plymouth and onward routes into Cornwall. With lanes restricted and delays mounting, many families, weekend breakers and day trippers found their itineraries thrown into disarray.
Some drivers travelling from the Midlands and the South East toward Devon and Cornwall faced the unwelcome prospect of significant delay even before they reached their accommodation. Hoteliers and guesthouses reported late check-ins and last-minute calls from guests stuck in stationary queues. Day visitors planning coastal walks, pub lunches or attractions in and around Plymouth and South Devon were forced to cancel or drastically shorten their plans.
For local businesses, especially those dependent on weekend trade from passing traffic, the disruption was immediately tangible. Roadside cafes, service stations and farm shops saw fluctuating custom, with some benefiting from gridlocked motorists seeking rest and refreshments, while others, positioned beyond the closure, experienced quieter than expected footfall as visitors simply could not reach them.
Why the A38 Is So Vulnerable to Travel Chaos
The A38 occupies a vital role in the South West transport network, effectively acting as a spine that links the M5 near Exeter with Plymouth and key junctions for Cornwall. Unlike urban motorways with extensive parallel routes, much of the A38 runs through rural and semi-rural landscapes where viable alternatives are limited. When a serious incident forces lane closures, the knock-on effect is immediate, often leaving drivers with few practical options other than to sit and wait.
In recent years, safety concerns on the A38 have been under increasing scrutiny. A formal review of collision data found that some stretches of the road, particularly around Plymouth, have collision rates significantly above the national average. In response, National Highways has already proposed a reduction of the speed limit from 70 mph to 60 mph on parts of the A38 Parkway as part of wider efforts to improve safety and cut the number of people killed or seriously injured.
At the same time, the A38 has seen ongoing roadworks and infrastructure upgrades, including overnight lane closures and lighting improvements, which while essential, can add to the network’s fragility. When routine works coincide with severe weather, heavy holiday traffic or, as in this case, a major collision, the road’s limited resilience becomes starkly apparent, and small incidents can quickly snowball into region-wide travel problems.
Weather, Road Conditions and Safety Concerns
The crash unfolded against a broader backdrop of challenging conditions for Devon’s roads this winter. The county has endured prolonged heavy rainfall and multiple named storms since early January, leaving surfaces saturated and increasingly degraded. Local authorities have recorded tens of thousands of pothole reports in recent weeks, with repair teams racing to keep up with new damage appearing almost daily.
On high-speed roads like the A38, the combination of standing water, worn surfaces, potholes and large volumes of fast-moving traffic can be a hazardous mix. Reduced grip, unpredictable braking distances and the risk of vehicles swerving to avoid defects all raise the chance that a minor loss of control can trigger a multi-vehicle collision. While the precise circumstances of this particular crash are still under investigation, the state of the wider road network is an important context for understanding why serious incidents seem to be occurring with worrying regularity.
Safety campaigners and local representatives have long called for a more comprehensive approach to the A38, blending enforcement and engineering with education. Measures under discussion and partial implementation include revised speed limits, improved lighting, resurfacing of high-risk sections and more prominent warning signage around known danger spots. For regular users of the road, each new major incident reinforces the urgency of that agenda.
Advice for Travellers Using the A38
For travellers planning journeys along the A38 in the coming days and weeks, the crash is a timely reminder to build extra resilience into itineraries. Allowing additional time, checking live traffic updates before departure and identifying potential diversion routes can all help reduce stress when unexpected incidents occur. While no driver can fully anticipate a sudden closure, advance awareness of likely bottlenecks can make a significant difference.
Motorists are advised to pay particular attention to variable message signs and local radio travel bulletins, which are often the first to flag serious incidents and diversions. Where possible, consider travelling outside peak periods, especially on Saturdays and during school holidays, when the A38 is at its busiest with a mix of local, commuter and tourist traffic. For those with flexible schedules, shifting a departure by an hour or two can sometimes mean the difference between a smooth run and sitting in gridlock.
Drivers should also ensure their vehicles are prepared for long delays. Keeping at least a quarter tank of fuel, carrying water and light snacks, having phone chargers at hand and making sure breakdown cover is up to date can transform an enforced wait into a manageable inconvenience rather than a genuine hardship. Parents travelling with children may wish to pack entertainment and extra supplies, especially on longer journeys into or out of Devon and Cornwall.
Local Response and Calls for Long-Term Solutions
In the wake of the crash, local councillors, road safety groups and residents have once again voiced concern over how frequently serious incidents are disrupting life along the A38 corridor. With some stretches already earmarked for speed reductions and infrastructure upgrades, today’s disruption is likely to strengthen calls for faster implementation and possible expansion of these measures.
Community representatives point out that the cost of major incidents on the A38 is borne not only in human terms but also in economic impact. Lost working hours, missed deliveries, delayed tourism spending and added pressure on local services all add up, particularly when disruptions last several hours or more. For areas where tourism and hospitality are central to the local economy, reputational damage from repeated travel chaos can be just as damaging as the immediate delays.
Authorities, in turn, are keen to stress that improvement programmes are already in motion, although they must be carefully coordinated to avoid creating further disruption. Balancing long-term safety benefits with short-term inconvenience remains a delicate task. Ultimately, the goal shared by police, highway planners and local communities is a safer, more resilient A38 that can better withstand the pressures of modern traffic volumes without repeatedly grinding to a halt.
The Takeaway
The massive crash on the A38 in Devon on 7 February 2026 serves as a sharp illustration of how pivotal this route is for the South West and how vulnerable it can be to sudden disruption. A single serious incident was enough to cause hours of congestion, frayed tempers and widespread changes of plan for locals, visitors and long-distance drivers alike. As emergency services now piece together the exact chain of events, attention is turning once again to the broader question of how to make the A38 safer and more reliable.
For travellers, the lesson is straightforward but important. When planning journeys through Devon, particularly at busy times, it pays to assume that incidents can and do happen, to leave extra time, and to keep an eye on live travel information. For policymakers and road authorities, the incident adds fresh weight to arguments for sustained investment in road maintenance, safety upgrades and realistic speed management across the A38 corridor.
Until such measures fully take root, the A38 will remain a road of contrasts. On a good day it offers a fast, scenic gateway into some of Britain’s most popular holiday landscapes. On a bad day, as many discovered today, a serious crash can turn that same gateway into a bottleneck, with hours of traffic chaos and a sobering reminder of the need for caution, patience and ongoing improvement.
FAQ
Q1. Where exactly did the A38 crash in Devon occur?
The crash took place on a busy stretch of the A38 in Devon on Saturday, 7 February 2026, along the main corridor linking Exeter with key destinations further south and west. Authorities have described it as occurring on a section that routinely carries heavy weekend traffic, though precise marker details are still being finalised by investigators.
Q2. How long were lanes on the A38 closed after the crash?
Lanes on the A38 were closed for several hours following the incident, with the most intense disruption spanning late morning into the mid-afternoon period. Even after lanes reopened, residual congestion persisted as long queues gradually cleared.
Q3. Were both directions of the A38 affected?
While the primary focus of the closure was on the side of the carriageway where the collision occurred, traffic in both directions was heavily affected by lane restrictions, rubbernecking and diversion traffic spilling onto parallel and local routes.
Q4. Were there any injuries reported in the crash?
At the time of writing, full details from the emergency services have not been released, but the scale of the response suggests that injuries were likely. Police and paramedics attended the scene and crash investigators were deployed, which is standard practice for serious incidents.
Q5. How did the crash affect travel plans for tourists and weekend visitors?
The crash caused significant delays for tourists heading to and from popular destinations in Devon and Cornwall, leading to late arrivals, missed reservations and curtailed day trips. Some visitors chose to abandon non-essential journeys altogether once alerts about major disruption were issued.
Q6. Why is the A38 so important for travel in the South West?
The A38 is a key trunk road that links the M5 near Exeter with Plymouth and onward connections toward Cornwall. It carries a mix of local, commuter and long-distance holiday traffic, meaning that any serious incident on this corridor quickly has regional implications for travel.
Q7. Are there existing safety concerns about the A38?
Yes. Recent reviews have highlighted higher than average collision rates on certain sections of the A38, particularly around Plymouth. In response, National Highways has proposed speed reductions and targeted safety measures aimed at cutting the number and severity of crashes.
Q8. What role have weather and road conditions played this winter?
Devon has experienced prolonged heavy rainfall and storms this winter, leading to widespread potholes and damaged road surfaces. While the direct cause of this particular crash is still being investigated, the challenging conditions on many routes, including the A38, have raised concern among both drivers and authorities.
Q9. What should drivers do if they need to use the A38 soon?
Drivers planning to use the A38 should check live traffic updates before travelling, allow extra time, and be prepared to follow signed diversions if another incident occurs. Travelling outside peak periods where possible and ensuring vehicles are fuelled and stocked for delays can help reduce stress if disruptions arise.
Q10. Are there long-term plans to improve safety on the A38?
There are ongoing plans that include speed limit changes on high-risk sections, infrastructure upgrades such as improved lighting and resurfacing, and enhanced enforcement where appropriate. While these measures will take time to deliver fully, they are part of a broader effort to make the A38 safer and more resilient for all road users.