A45 Road Information

  1. Home
  2. Roads
  3. A45 Road Information
A45 road near Wellingborough showing Chowns Mill roundabout approach
The A45 near Chowns Mill roundabout – one of Northamptonshire's busiest junctions
A45 Northamptonshire Deer Warning Area Congestion Hotspot
📍 A45 Corridor: Daventry to Rushden (Northamptonshire stretch)

A45 – Road Information and Breakdown Safety Advice

The A45 is a major route through Northamptonshire connecting Daventry to Rushden and beyond. The road has mixed characteristics: dual carriageway in parts, single carriageway with dark rural sections, and notorious congestion hotspots.

This page provides important safety information for drivers on the A45, including hazard locations, congestion warnings, deer crossing zones, and emergency procedures.

  • Dark rural sections between Daventry and Northampton – no street lighting
  • Congestion hotspot at Chowns Mill roundabout (A6/A45 junction)
  • Deer crossing zone near Flore – high risk at dusk/dawn
  • Heavy traffic at Rushden Lakes retail destination on weekends
⚠️ Chowns Mill Roundabout – Accident Hotspot

Chowns Mill roundabout (where the A45 meets the A6 near Rushden) is one of Northamptonshire's busiest and most accident-prone junctions. Rear-end collisions are common, especially during peak hours.

  • Reduce speed on approach – traffic can queue back onto the A45
  • Look twice before pulling out – drivers often run red lights
  • If you are involved in an accident here, pull into the nearest safe location if possible
  • If your vehicle is immobile, stay inside with seatbelt fastened until emergency services arrive

Deer Warning – Flore Area

The A45 between Flore and Kislingbury has a significant deer population. Collisions are most common between dusk (6pm-8pm) and dawn (5am-7am).

  • Reduce speed during these hours, especially in autumn and winter
  • Be aware of deer warning signs – they are placed in high-risk zones
  • If a collision is unavoidable, brake firmly and stay in your lane
  • If you hit a deer, pull over safely, call your insurance company, and arrange recovery
  • Do not approach an injured deer – they can be dangerous when panicked

We recover at least one vehicle per month from deer strikes in this area.

Dark Sections – No Street Lighting

The A45 between Daventry and Northampton has long sections with no street lighting. If you break down here at night:

  • Put hazard lights on immediately
  • If you can reach a layby or safe verge, pull in
  • If you cannot reach a safe location, call 999 (Highways England) first
  • Stay in your vehicle with seatbelt fastened
  • Do not get out – drivers may not see you in the dark

A45 Hazard Locations

Based on local knowledge, these locations have higher-than-average incident rates:

LocationHazard TypeAdvice
Chowns Mill roundabout (Rushden)Accident hotspot – rear-end collisionsReduce speed on approach. Traffic often queues back onto A45.
Flore to KislingburyDeer crossing zoneHigh risk period: dusk to dawn. Reduce speed, watch for deer warning signs.
Daventry to Northampton (rural)No street lighting – dark sectionsIf you break down here, hazard lights on. Call 999 first if in live lane.
Barnes Meadow (Northampton)Congestion – stop-start trafficRush hour delays. Clutch failures and overheating common.
Rushden Lakes areaRetail destination – heavy weekend trafficVery busy on weekends. Car parks fill quickly. Allow extra time.
Breakdown on the A45 – What To Do

Follow these steps if you break down on the A45:

  1. If you can reach a layby or safe verge: Pull in safely. Put hazard lights on. Stay in your vehicle with seatbelt fastened.
  2. If you cannot reach a safe location (dark section, no hard shoulder): Hazard lights on immediately. Call 999 (Highways England) first – they may need to attend.
  3. Do not get out of the vehicle on dark sections – drivers may not see you.
  4. If you are at Rushden Lakes: The retail park has dedicated car parks. If possible, coast into a parking bay.
  5. If you break down at Chowns Mill roundabout: If you can clear the roundabout, do so. If not, stay in your vehicle and call 999 first – the roundabout is high-speed.

Recovery providers cannot close lanes. Highways England may need to attend first on sections without a safe stopping place.

Rushden Lakes – Traffic Information

Rushden Lakes is a major retail destination adjacent to the A45 near Junction 12. The site includes:

  • Vue cinema (2-hour films = extended parking)
  • Numerous restaurants and food outlets
  • High street retail stores
  • Large multi-storey and surface car parks

Traffic warnings:

  • The A45 approach to Rushden Lakes is very busy on weekends, especially Saturday afternoons and Sunday lunchtimes
  • Christmas period (November-December) sees significant congestion
  • Car parks fill quickly during peak periods – have a backup plan
  • When leaving, expect delays during peak exit times (5pm-7pm)

A45 – Key Junctions and Stretches (Northamptonshire)

Location/StretchRoad TypeNearest TownsHazards
Daventry to Weedon BecRural dual carriagewayDaventry, Weedon BecDark sections, deer, no hard shoulder for miles
Weedon Bec to KislingburyRural dual carriagewayWeedon, Kislingbury, FloreDeer crossing zone (Flore area)
Kislingbury to Barnes MeadowUrban dual carriagewayKislingbury, NorthamptonCongestion at peak times
Barnes Meadow to Chowns MillDual carriagewayNorthampton, Wellingborough, RushdenChowns Mill roundabout – accident hotspot
Chowns Mill to Rushden LakesUrban dual carriagewayRushden, Higham FerrersWeekend congestion, retail traffic

Services and Refuelling on the A45

LocationTypeNotes
DaventryLocal petrol stationsMultiple options within 5 minutes of A45
Northampton (Barnes Meadow)Local petrol stationsWithin 5-10 minutes of junction
WellingboroughLocal petrol stationsNear Chowns Mill roundabout
Rushden LakesNo fuel on siteNearest fuel is in Rushden town centre or Wellingborough
Between Daventry and Northampton⚠️ Limited optionsPlan your fuel – long stretch with few petrol stations

Need Recovery Assistance on the A45?

Visit your nearest town's recovery information page for service details, pricing, and assistance:

Recovery information for Daventry → Recovery information for Northampton → Recovery information for Wellingborough → Recovery information for Rushden →

For pricing information, please see our pricing page.

Frequently Asked Questions – A45 Breakdown

What should I do if I break down on a dark section of the A45?

Put hazard lights on immediately. If you can reach a layby, pull in. If not, call 999 (Highways England) first. Stay in your vehicle with seatbelt fastened. Do not get out – drivers may not see you in the dark.

Chowns Mill roundabout (A45/A6 junction) is one of Northamptonshire's busiest and most accident-prone junctions. Rear-end collisions are common. Reduce speed on approach and look twice before pulling out.

Yes, between Flore and Kislingbury. Collisions are most common at dusk and dawn. Slow down during these hours and watch for deer warning signs.

Rushden Lakes is a major retail destination with cinema, restaurants, and shops. The A45 approach is very busy on weekends and during the Christmas period. Allow extra travel time.

If you can clear the roundabout, do so safely. If not, stay in your vehicle with hazard lights on. Call 999 first – the roundabout is high-speed. Do not get out of the vehicle.

Petrol stations are available at Daventry, Northampton (Barnes Meadow area), and Wellingborough. There is a long stretch between Daventry and Northampton with limited options – plan your fuel.

For recovery assistance on the A45, please visit the recovery information pages linked above for your nearest town. Those pages contain service details, pricing, and contact options.

For general questions, see our main FAQ page.

© 2026 Nick Transport Specialist Ltd (Company No. 16342771) • All Rights Reserved • Privacy Policy • Terms and Conditions • Cookie Policy

Public Liability Up to £2,000,000 | Goods in Transit Up to £500,000 | Business Insurance Up to £200,000