Thousands of drivers are risking a £100 fine and three penalty points on their licence every time they drive on the motorway. More than 53,000 incidents of drivers ignoring lane closed signs on smart motorways have been recorded since 2021, new research has found. Road safety charity IAM RoadSmart, which conducted the study, said it demonstrates the Government must give “serious thought” about the future of the roads.
Adherence to red X signs is critical to safety on smart motorways which had their hard shoulder converted into a live running lane. Common speed camera myths National Highways staff switch on the closed lane signs when stopped vehicles are detected in live lanes to prevent them being hit from behind and to help and protect the emergency services. Since September 2022, all police forces have been able to use enforcement cameras to prosecute motorists who illegally pass under a red X or enter a lane beyond one of the signs.
This can result in a fine of up to £100 and three penalty points, or more severe penalties and a court appearance in some cases. Figures obtained by IAM RoadSmart following Freedom of Information requests to police forces revealed 4,393 incidents were recorded in 2021, rising to 20,773 in 2022 and 28,231 in 2023. Meera Naran, whose eight-year-old son Dev died in a smart motorway crash on the M6 near Birmingham in May 2018, said: “In an emergency, every second counts.
“The red X provides a layer of safety for the public, emergency serv.