On 17 July a mother from near Tiverton says her nine-month-old daughter began to overheat after traffic on the M5 stopped during a police-led closure. The mother drove to junction 25 to cool the baby after the car became increasingly hot and the engine was switched off. MP Ashley Fox has called for an urgent review of how motorway incidents are handled, while Avon and Somerset Police, National Highways and the RAC urge drivers to plan ahead and call 999 in genuine emergencies. Road safety officials stress staying in the vehicle may be safest and advise taking precautions during hot weather.
Baby Overheats After M5 Closure: Mother Urges Caution as Traffic Halts Leave Cars Baking
Siobhan was taking her daughter, Adora, swimming when her car overheated in heavy traffic on the M5 [Handout]
A mother from near Tiverton, Devon, says her nine-month-old daughter, Adora, began to overheat when traffic on the M5 ground to a halt during a police-led closure on 17 July. What began as a short trip to a swimming lesson in Taunton turned into a tense ordeal as delays mounted and the interior of their car became increasingly hot.
Siobhan told reporters she had checked the route on a navigation app before setting off and the motorway initially appeared clear. About two miles before the junction for Taunton the traffic slowed dramatically; at one point it took ten minutes to cover a single mile. As delays lengthened, Siobhan says her car started to overheat, so she turned off the engine.
"She was getting overheated and she was going bright red in the face," Siobhan said. With the windows down, the vehicle still felt "just hotter and hotter." There was no shade available on the hard shoulder, so after a short time she used it to drive the final mile to junction 25, where she was able to cool Adora down.
There were severe delays on and around the M5 in Somerset following a police-led incident on 17 July [National Highways]
Siobhan considered calling the police to request an escort off the motorway but decided any delay could make her daughter's condition worse. "When you're in that situation, you think to yourself, 'I would rather be asking for forgiveness than to ask for permission and have to wait' when it's to do with a child," she said. She added that cooler conditions — around 16°C — would likely have made the situation far less stressful.
Official Responses and Calls For Review
The M5 was closed between junction 23 (Dunball) and junction 24 (Bridgwater) on 17 July due to a police-led incident. Avon and Somerset Police said drivers experiencing a genuine emergency on the motorway should call 999 for advice or assistance.
Ashley Fox, the MP for Bridgwater, wrote to Local Transport Minister Simon Lightwood calling for an "urgent review" of how motorway incidents are managed. Fox acknowledged the complexity of handling serious collisions and people in crisis but said repeated closures are "becoming increasingly unacceptable for local communities."
Following Siobhan and Adora's incident, Avon and Somerset Police said drivers in an emergency should call 999 for advice and assistance [Handout]
Jack Mason, road safety manager for National Highways in the South West, acknowledged how "very distressing" it can be to be stuck in a car with a young child and advised drivers to stay in their vehicles where that is the safest option. He warned that using the hard shoulder can impede emergency services trying to reach incidents.
Travel Disruption and Planning Advice
The RAC warned of notable weekend delays on the M5: roughly 34 minutes southbound between J15 and J23 at about 12:30 BST on Saturday, and around 70 minutes northbound between J25 and J15 at about 14:00 BST on Sunday. National Highways said it has seen "high volumes across all days during the holiday period," with peaks from mid-morning to early evening — a shift away from the traditional busiest days.
National Highways advises drivers to plan journeys in advance, particularly on major routes such as the M5, M4, A303, A417, A30 and A38, and to be prepared for delays during the holiday season.
Practical Tips If You Become Stranded
- Call 999 if you have a genuine emergency or if a passenger's health is at risk.
- Stay in your vehicle if it is safer than exiting; getting out on a busy motorway can be dangerous.
- If the car is overheating, turn off the engine when safe to do so and seek shade or the nearest junction if it is safe to move.
- Keep infants and vulnerable passengers cool and hydrated where possible and seek medical help if there are signs of overheating.
- Use official traffic information and plan alternate routes, especially during known peak travel times.
Siobhan said the episode has made her rethink travelling on hot days and urged other parents to plan carefully and be aware of what to do if delays occur.
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