Sleeping driver halts M25 for hours, testing patience of thousands.
By Our Crime Editor: Rob Banks
ENFIELD—Traffic on the westbound M25 at Junction 24 was brought to a prolonged halt on Saturday after a man suffering from narcolepsy fell asleep at the wheel and remained so for several hours, prompting a major police operation and widespread commuter despair.
The incident occurred shortly after 8:15am when a stationary vehicle was reported in the middle lane of the motorway. Drivers initially assumed congestion, an accident, or “just the M25 being the M25,” before realising the car was not moving at all. Inside was Jonathan Pipestaff, 55, from Walthamstow E17, fast asleep.
Traffic police attended the scene and, following several unsuccessful attempts to wake Mr Pipestaff using standard techniques such as sirens, loud knocking, and professional concern, took the decision to close the westbound carriageway. Three lanes of traffic were diverted onto the A10 at Enfield, instantly transforming a routine Saturday morning into what witnesses later described as “a test of character.”
Asleep at the wheel
Mr Pipestaff had reportedly left his home in Hertfordshire earlier that morning, intending to travel to Surrey to spend the weekend with family—a journey that usually takes under two hours. Instead, he slept in the middle lane of the M25 for approximately three and a half hours, contributing to a total delay of five and a half hours for surrounding traffic.
Emergency services eventually succeeded in rousing Mr Pipestaff, who was described as “confused but well-rested.” He was escorted safely from the motorway and continued his journey, arriving at his destination seven and a half hours after first setting out.
A Norfolk pilot fell asleep, missing his landing spot.
— Suffolk Gazette (@SuffolkGazette) January 23, 2024
Rumble strips are to be added to the clouds after a Norfolk International Airline pilot fell asleep, missing their landing spot.https://t.co/gjVMbzieFT
By that time, thousands of other motorists had also completed journeys they had not planned to make, including extended visits to slip roads, roundabouts, and the A10.
A police spokesperson reminded drivers to ensure they are fit to drive before setting off, adding, “While the M25 is known for stopping traffic, it does not usually do so by falling asleep.”
As of Saturday evening, traffic had returned to normal, though authorities confirmed that commuter fury remained widespread and unresolved.
Meanwhile: Elderly lady lost driving around M25 for two days