Trunk A-road

A259 traffic and collisions

The A259 is a trunk A-road of 122.0 miles, from Hampshire to Kent. This page covers its traffic at 84 DfT count points since 2000 and the collisions police recorded on it.

Last updated: 15 September 2026
Data source: Department for Transport
Records analysed: 84 count points in 2025
Methodology: View methodology

Traffic in 2025 718m vehicle miles
Average daily traffic 16,116 vehicles a day, both directions
Busiest section 38,104 A280 to B2140
HGV share 1.9% of vehicle miles
Traffic since 2019 +0.2% same count points
Collisions, 2021 to 2025 1,871 54.7 per 100m vehicle miles

How busy is the A259?

On an average day in 2025, 16,116 vehicles passed each point on the A259, counting both directions. The busiest section is A280 to B2140 (West Sussex), with 38,104 a day; the quietest listed is Ashford Road/Terminus Road to Devonshire Place, with 2,472.

Busiest sections, 2025

A280 to B2140 carries 2.4 times the road’s average flow.

Sections of the A259 with the highest average daily flow, 2025
Section	Vehicles a day
A280 to B2140 West Sussex · 1.1 mi · HGVs 1.3%	38,104
B2140 to A2032 West Sussex · 1.6 mi · HGVs 0.9%	37,198
B2187 Mill Lane roundabout to A280 West Sussex · 0.6 mi · HGVs 1.3%	29,765
B2109 Avis Rd to Bishopstone Rd, Seaford East Sussex · 1.4 mi · HGVs 2.1%	28,858
B2233 to New Courtwick Lane, Littlehampton West Sussex · 2.4 mi · HGVs 2.3%	28,134
B2187 Horsham Road roundabout to B2187 Mill Lane roundabout West Sussex · 1.4 mi · HGVs 1.3%	28,080
A27(T) to Rowan Way West Sussex · 3.2 mi · HGVs 3.7%	27,632
B2104 to Pacific Drive East Sussex · 1.4 mi · HGVs 0.4%	27,456
A284 to B2187 Horsham Road roundabout West Sussex · 0.9 mi · HGVs 1.7%	26,289
Flansham Park, Bognor to B2132 Yapton Road (south) West Sussex · 0.9 mi · HGVs 1.8%	25,866

Source:DfT,UK Motoring analysis 2000 to 2025 Updated 15 Sept 2026

Route

Hampshire to Kent · 122.0 miles

Schematic route: each line joins the junctions at the ends of a DfT count point link.

A259 traffic and collisions by section

71 sections between junctions, in route order. Each is the average of its DfT count points, weighted by length. 9 short link roads and spurs (2.0 miles) count in the road’s totals but are not listed.

Show all 71 sections Tap a column heading to sort

Sections of the A259 in route order, 2025 traffic
#
1	A27 to Broad RoadHampshire, West Sussex	3.6	16,055	1.6%	−0.9%	44	44.2
2	Broad Road to A27 ChichesterWest Sussex	3.9	10,366	2.4%	−6.0%	28	39.5
3	A27 to A286West Sussex	0.8	16,734	0.9%	+6.8%	17	77.3
4	A286 to A27West Sussex	0.9	9,646	1.1%	+0.1%	21	139.8
5	A27(T) to Rowan WayWest Sussex	3.2	27,632	3.7%	+0.3%	65	41.3
6	Rowan Way to A27(T)West Sussex	1.6	13,522	5.4%	+4.8%	18	49.4
7	A259 to A29West Sussex	1.7	18,760	2.7%	+24.8%	8	–
8	Flansham Park, Bognor to B2132 Yapton Road (south)West Sussex	0.9	25,866	1.8%	+29.8%	22	59.5
9	B2132 to B 2233West Sussex	1.4	22,675	2.2%	+12.1%	20	34.9
10	B2233 to New Courtwick Lane, LittlehamptonWest Sussex	2.4	28,134	2.3%	+8.9%	44	35.9
11	New Courtwick Lane to A284West Sussex	0.2	31,228	2.3%	+8.9%	8	–
12	A284 to B2187 Horsham Road roundaboutWest Sussex	0.9	26,289	1.7%	–	25	289.5
13	B2187 Horsham Road roundabout to B2187 Mill Lane roundaboutWest Sussex	1.4	28,080	1.3%	−0.7%	25	36.7
14	B2187 Mill Lane roundabout to A280West Sussex	0.6	29,765	1.3%	−0.7%	15	48.5
15	A280 to B2140West Sussex	1.1	38,104	1.3%	–	18	117.7
16	B2140 to A2032West Sussex	1.6	37,198	0.9%	+3.2%	39	39.7
17	A2032 to A24West Sussex	3.7	12,725	0.7%	–	77	448.1
18	A24 to A2025West Sussex	2.4	16,598	1.1%	−10.4%	73	99.3
19	A2025 to A283 /VICTORIA RoadWest Sussex	2.2	20,241	1.1%	+7.3%	44	55.9
20	A283 to B2193West Sussex, Brighton and Hove	3.0	19,926	1.9%	+12.8%	52	49.3
21	B2193 to A2023Brighton and Hove	1.5	21,944	1.5%	+1.5%	36	61.9
22	A2023 to A2010Brighton and Hove	1.7	22,342	0.9%	−13.7%	63	87.6
23	A2010 to A23Brighton and Hove	0.4	27,943	2.2%	−1.3%	33	–
24	A23 to B2137Brighton and Hove	1.3	17,128	1.0%	−17.1%	54	133.8
25	B2137 Arundel Rd, Brighton to B2123 High Dt, RottingdeanBrighton and Hove	2.5	22,602	0.9%	−7.6%	26	25.7
26	B2123 High St, Rottingdean to South Way/Lewes RdBrighton and Hove, East Sussex	5.0	20,115	1.0%	+3.7%	113	63.9
27	Brighton Rd to South WayEast Sussex	0.3	19,372	1.1%	+1.1%	16	–
28	A259 North Way to A259 Junction just East of River OuseEast Sussex	0.1	29,086	0.9%	–	8	–
29	River Ouse to Just East of A26 Flyover (Near Electricity Distribution Site)East Sussex	0.2	22,300	0.5%	–	fewer than 3	–
30	Near Lightning Tower to A259 RoundaboutEast Sussex	0.1	20,192	0.6%	–	fewer than 3	–
31	A259 Drove Road roundabout to B2109 Avis RdEast Sussex	0.2	32,032	2.1%	+15.8%	6	–
32	B2109 Avis Rd to Bishopstone Rd, SeafordEast Sussex	1.4	28,858	2.1%	+15.8%	20	27.6
33	Bishopstone Rd to Alfriston RoadEast Sussex	1.9	20,389	1.1%	−2.7%	34	49.9
34	Afriston Road to Chyngton LaneEast Sussex	0.6	14,386	0.8%	−5.4%	10	65.6
35	Chyngton Lane, Seaford to Old Willingdon Road, East DeanEast Sussex	3.2	11,688	1.9%	−2.8%	12	18.8
36	Old Willingdon Road, East Dean to Cherry Garden Rd, EastbourneEast Sussex	2.8	10,186	1.7%	−7.1%	16	32.0
37	Cherry Garden Rd to A22East Sussex	0.9	11,942	0.6%	−8.8%	22	114.3
38	A22 to A2040East Sussex	0.2	15,325	0.6%	−9.9%	fewer than 3	–
39	A2040 to Ashford RoadEast Sussex	0.1	16,336	0.7%	−1.8%	9	–
40	Ashford Road/Terminus Road to Devonshire PlaceEast Sussex	0.6	2,472	0.9%	−7.6%	18	685.7
41	Susan's Road to A2021East Sussex	0.9	3,735	0.5%	–	41	675.5
42	A2021 to A2290East Sussex	0.8	15,592	0.9%	−0.1%	24	112.4
43	B2104 to Pacific DriveEast Sussex	1.4	27,456	0.4%	+4.7%	36	55.1
44	Pacific Drive, Eastbourne to A27East Sussex	2.5	11,214	0.7%	−6.9%	32	65.1
45	A27 to B2182 Cooden Sea RdEast Sussex	5.2	21,554	3.6%	−4.0%	63	32.4
46	B2182 Cooden Sea Rd to A269East Sussex	1.6	21,605	2.2%	+13.9%	26	42.7
47	A269W to A269EEast Sussex	0.8	11,255	2.1%	−19.6%	13	78.6
48	A269 to A2036East Sussex	0.8	19,568	2.3%	−3.3%	28	101.6
49	A2036 to A259 principalEast Sussex	0.1	16,391	1.2%	−6.6%	6	–
50	A259 Trunk to A2102 London RoadEast Sussex	2.5	16,391	1.2%	−6.6%	44	60.1
51	A2102 London Road to A2101 Harold PlaceEast Sussex	0.9	15,572	1.1%	−1.6%	32	131.0
52	A2101 Harold Place to A2101 Albert RoadEast Sussex	0.1	13,989	1.3%	−25.8%	3	–
53	A2101 to B2093East Sussex	2.0	10,447	2.1%	−2.8%	59	162.0
54	B2093 to A259 (trunk)East Sussex	0.9	11,768	2.1%	−5.3%	14	74.8
55	A259 principal to A268East Sussex	8.5	9,630	4.5%	+4.4%	38	27.8
56	A268 Wish Street to A268 Fishmarket RoadEast Sussex	0.6	9,419	4.8%	−4.2%	8	–
57	A268 to B2080East Sussex, Kent	7.8	6,872	4.5%	+9.4%	34	39.4
58	B2080 to B2075Kent	3.2	11,151	2.6%	−1.8%	18	29.2
59	B2075 to B2071Kent	1.2	10,104	3.1%	−6.3%	21	98.8
60	B2071 to Palmarsh RoadKent	7.0	11,747	1.4%	−2.6%	43	30.3
61	Palmarsh Avenue to A2008Kent	1.4	14,088	2.6%	−5.4%	12	34.4
62	A2008 to A261Kent	0.4	11,652	0.8%	+6.7%	0	–
63	A261 to Station Road roundaboutKent	0.5	16,529	0.7%	−3.0%	3	–
64	Station Road roundabout to B2063Kent	1.3	12,001	0.9%	−11.6%	11	39.9
65	B2063 to A2033Kent	2.1	11,344	0.8%	−6.1%	26	61.7
66	A2033 to A259 splitKent	0.6	9,742	0.9%	−5.8%	3	–
67	Shorncliffe Rd to Cheriton RdKent	0.1	12,604	0.9%	−6.3%	4	–
68	At A2034Kent	0.1	13,306	2.0%	−6.5%	fewer than 3	–
69	A2034 to Black Bull RdKent	0.4	14,239	0.5%	+0.2%	13	–
70	A2033 to A260Kent	0.7	15,308	0.7%	+2.8%	21	112.6
71	A260 to M20 Junction 13Kent	1.1	17,068	0.8%	−5.4%	16	48.2

Vehicles a day is the average daily flow in 2025. “Since 2019” compares the same count points. Collisions are those with the A259 as the first road, placed on the nearest section by their recorded position; rates (per 100 million vehicle miles) are shown for sections of half a mile or more with 10 or more.

A259 traffic by vehicle type

Cars and taxis make up 79.1% of the vehicle miles on the A259. HGVs account for 1.9%, rising to 5.4% on Rowan Way to A27(T).

Vehicle mix, 2025

Share of vehicle miles on the A259 by vehicle type
Category	Share
Cars and taxis	79.1%
Vans (LGVs)	17.0%
HGVs	1.9%
Motorcycles	1.1%
Buses and coaches	0.8%

Source:DfT,UK Motoring analysis 2000 to 2025 Updated 15 Sept 2026

HGV share of traffic

HGVs as a share of vehicle miles on the A259, by year
Year	HGV share
2000	2.8%
2001	2.8%
2002	2.8%
2003	2.9%
2004	3.1%
2005	2.8%
2006	2.7%
2007	2.5%
2008	2.4%
2009	2.1%
2010	2.2%
2011	2.2%
2012	2.2%
2013	2.2%
2014	2.2%
2015	2.1%
2016	2.0%
2017	2.0%
2018	2.0%
2019	2.0%
2020	2.3%
2021	2.2%
2022	2.1%
2023	2.0%
2024	2.0%
2025	1.9%

Source:DfT,UK Motoring analysis 2000 to 2025 Updated 15 Sept 2026

A259 traffic trend

Traffic on the A259 came to 718 million vehicle miles in 2025. At the count points present in both years, it is about the same as in 2019, before the pandemic, and up 0.7% on 2015.

Vehicle miles a year

Like for like, traffic is up 0.6% on 2000.

Vehicle miles on the A259 each year, the whole road as it was that year
Year	Vehicle miles
2000	738m
2001	746m
2002	737m
2003	755m
2004	768m
2005	760m
2006	760m
2007	729m
2008	711m
2009	709m
2010	701m
2011	700m
2012	680m
2013	677m
2014	694m
2015	710m
2016	717m
2017	696m
2018	707m
2019	713m
2020	577m
2021	636m
2022	671m
2023	692m
2024	703m
2025	718m

Source:DfT,UK Motoring analysis 2000 to 2025 Updated 15 Sept 2026

Average daily flow

Average daily flow along the A259, weighted by link length, by year
Year	Vehicles a day
2000	16,796
2001	16,989
2002	16,790
2003	17,186
2004	17,479
2005	17,304
2006	17,307
2007	16,604
2008	16,180
2009	16,153
2010	15,974
2011	15,950
2012	15,476
2013	15,412
2014	15,808
2015	16,159
2016	16,185
2017	15,923
2018	16,090
2019	16,116
2020	13,038
2021	14,376
2022	15,166
2023	15,630
2024	15,871
2025	16,116

Source:DfT,UK Motoring analysis 2000 to 2025 Updated 15 Sept 2026

The chart counts the whole road as it was each year, so new or renumbered stretches move it. The percentage changes compare only count points present in both years. In 2025, 20 of the 84 count points were counted; DfT estimated the rest from earlier counts and local trends.

A259 collisions

Police recorded 1,871 collisions with the A259 as the first road from 2021 to 2025, 555 of them fatal or serious. That is 54.7 per 100 million vehicle miles, higher than the 31.5 for all A-roads in Great Britain. On average there were 3.1 a year for each mile of road.

Reported collisions by year

Down 4.7% from 2021 to 2025.

Source:DfT STATS19,UK Motoring analysis 2021 to 2025 Updated 15 Sept 2026

Sections with the highest collision rates

Per 100 million vehicle miles, 2021 to 2025. Sections of half a mile or more with 10 or more collisions.

Collisions per 100 million vehicle miles by section of the A259, 2021 to 2025
Section	Per 100m vehicle miles
Ashford Road/Terminus Road to Devonshire Place East Sussex · 18 collisions	685.7
Susan's Road to A2021 East Sussex · 41 collisions	675.5
A2032 to A24 West Sussex · 77 collisions	448.1
A284 to B2187 Horsham Road roundabout West Sussex · 25 collisions	289.5
A2101 to B2093 East Sussex · 59 collisions	162.0
A286 to A27 West Sussex · 21 collisions	139.8
A23 to B2137 Brighton and Hove · 54 collisions	133.8
A2102 London Road to A2101 Harold Place East Sussex · 32 collisions	131.0

Source:DfT STATS19,UK Motoring analysis 2021 to 2025 Updated 15 Sept 2026

A further 206 collisions were recorded at junctions where the A259 was the second road; they are not in the figures above. Fatal or serious uses DfT’s adjusted serious figures. How we count collisions

Council areas on the A259

In route order. Each is the highway authority DfT files the count points under.

Hampshire
West Sussex
Brighton and Hove
East Sussex
Kent

Data sources and methodology

Datasets used on this page
Figures	Source	Period	Records	Updated
Traffic counts and vehicle mix	Road traffic statistics (AADF by count point) Department for Transport Derived statistics UK Motoring	2000 to 2025	84 count points in 2025	15 September 2026
Reported collisions	Road safety open data (STATS19) Department for Transport Derived statistics UK Motoring	2021 to 2025	1,871 reported collisions	15 September 2026

Annual average daily flow (AADF) is the average number of vehicles passing a point on a typical day of the year, both directions combined.
Vehicle miles are AADF multiplied by link length and 365, summed over every count point link on the road.
Sections join count point links between junctions, using the link lines in DfT’s major road database.
STATS19 covers personal injury collisions reported to the police. Damage-only collisions are not included, and not every injury collision is reported.
Serious and slight figures are DfT’s adjusted estimates, which allow for police forces moving to injury-based reporting.
Counts of one or two collisions below Great Britain level are shown as “fewer than 3”.

How we calculate these figures All data sources

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Police-reported collisions on the A259 by year: fatal or serious, and slight
Year	Slight	Fatal or serious
2021	250	108
2022	281	101
2023	297	120
2024	258	115
2025	230	111

How busy is the A259?

Route

A259 traffic and collisions by section

A259 traffic by vehicle type

A259 traffic trend

A259 collisions

Council areas on the A259

Roads that meet the A259

Data sources and methodology

Related statistics