Drivers given £100 fine warning for common motorway mistake

Thousands of drivers are risking a £100 fine and three penalty points on their licence every time they drive on the motorway by ignoring lane closed signs on smart motorways, according to new research. Since 2021, more than 53,000 incidents of drivers disregarding these signs have been recorded. IAM RoadSmart, a road safety charity that conducted the study, emphasizes the urgent need for the government to seriously reconsider the future of smart motorways.

Smart motorways convert hard shoulders into active lanes, with red X signs indicating lane closures to prevent accidents involving stationary vehicles and to protect emergency services. Since September 2022, all police forces have been empowered to use enforcement cameras to prosecute motorists who illegally pass under a red X or enter a closed lane. This violation can result in a fine of up to £100 and three penalty points, or more severe penalties including court appearances in some cases.

The figures obtained by IAM RoadSmart through Freedom of Information requests highlight a significant rise in incidents: from 4,393 in 2021 to 20,773 in 2022, and further increasing to 28,231 in 2023. Nicholas Lyes, IAM RoadSmart's director of policy and standards, stresses the dangers of ignoring red X signs, citing the risk of serious collisions. Despite these enforcement efforts, concerns among drivers about the safety of smart motorways without hard shoulders persist.

IAM RoadSmart urges the new government to address these safety concerns and evaluate the future of existing smart motorway sections, emphasizing the need for a thorough reassessment of their effectiveness and safety measures.