Coventry's ring road is pure chaos

Have you ever driven the Coventry Ring Road? There's nothing else like it in the world. A tight circular racetrack surrounds the city centre with junctions so close together there's only a few seconds for traffic to get on and off.

Travel back in time to 16 October 2004, and take two laps of the whole circuit - once clockwise and then again anticlockwise. The road has changed since this was filmed, with junction 6 rebuilt and lots of new electronic signs everywhere.

You might also like our long read on the Coventry Ring Road, and some photos we shared more recently of its new electronic signs.

With thanks to Steven Jukes for driving!

Date of recording

16 October 2004

Routes

A4053

What's new

Skid Risk, Accident, Fog

For the first time, we can share pictures of the pioneering experiment that lit up the Worcestershire countryside with enormous signs 61 years ago.

All change

In July 2024, a new Government entered office with a very different set of priorities. What does it mean for a faltering roads programme?

A century of motorways

It's 100 years since the opening of the world's first motorway, the Autostrada from Milan to the Lakes.

Share this page

Have you seen...

Alley by gaslight

Some of Central London's quieter streets are still, surprisingly, lit by old and rather beautiful gas lanterns. Here are a few, by day and by night.

Buy me a coffee