Drivers issued urgent warning over £100 fine and three points for driving on motorway

A key motorway rule which should be followed every time you use the motorway could leave drivers facing a £100 fine if they fail to comply.

If motorists ignore the red X signs or enter a closed lane on a smart motorway, this could result in the fine being issued.

Since 2021, this incident has occurred more than 53,000 times according to road safety charity IAM RoadSmart.

The closed lane signs may be put on when stopped vehicles are detected in live lanes which is crucial for preventing crashes.

In September 2022, a new law change allowed police to use enforcement camera to prosecute motorists who ignore the signs.

Three penalty points could be handed out to those who commit this crime or more serious punishments may by put in place, with some even being summoned to appear in court.

In 2021, 4,393 incidents were recorded which rose to 28,231 in 2023, according to IAM RoadSmart.

Director of policy and standards at the charity, Nicholas Lyes, said: “Ignoring a red X sign on a smart motorway is dangerous because it risks a serious collision and, for this reason, we welcome police forces clamping down on those who break the law.

“The majority of drivers have serious reservations about the safety of smart motorways where the hard shoulder has been removed, and these figures are unlikely to persuade them they are safe.

“We know that no new all-lane running smart motorways will be built but it does beg the question of what we do with the existing stretches that are in operation? This is something the new Government needs to give some serious thought to.”

The introduction of smart motorways was an idea set to tackle congestion and create increased capacity without more building work.

A spokesperson for National Highways said: “Above 90% of drivers observe Red X signals, but ignoring Red X signals is an offence and puts themselves and others at risk.”

Smart motorways have created long-standing safety fears following multiple fatalities where there was no hard shoulder for cars to pull over into. It is estimated that there have been 79 deaths linked to smart motorways.

Campaigner Claire Mercer, whose husband was killed on a smart motorway in South Yorkshire, welcomed the Government’s initiative to cancel these motorways. 

Ms Mercer said: “It's great, it's very good news. I'm particularly happy that it's been confirmed that the routes that are in planning, in progress, have also been cancelled. I didn't think they'd do that.

“So it's good news, but obviously it's the existing ones that are killing us. And I'm not settling for more emergency refuge areas.”