As many as one in 10 drivers are ignoring signs warning of lane closures on motorways, new statistics indicate. The proportion of drivers who comply with red X signs is "more than 90%", said National Highways - suggesting almost 10% drive through closed lanes.
Adherence to red X signs is critical to ensuring safety on smart motorways, where the hard shoulder has been converted into a fourth lane. National Highways staff switch on the 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. 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.
Surrey Police was one of the first forces to prosecute offenders caught by cameras in November 2019. It has issued 9,427 Notices of Intended Prosecution since then. Some 4,926 recipients completed a safety awareness course, with others selecting alternative options such as paying a fixed penalty or having the matter heard at court.
The roads policing unit covering Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire said nearly 300 vehicles were seen contravening a red X displayed on the M25 near Junction 20 on a single day in December 2018 while emergency roadworks were carried out following a crash.
One of the offending drivers contested the matter at court, where he was ordered to pay a fine and costs amounting to almost £1,000. He also received three penalty points.
Chief Constable Jo Shiner, the National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for roads policing, said: “Red X signals are in place on the motorway for your safety and the safety of others.
“Sadly, there are too many instances where motorists fail to comply with a red X signal and put others in incredible danger by driving in a closed lane. This is unacceptable and drivers who do so need to understand they face prosecution.”
National Highways traffic officer Dave Harford said: “We don’t take the decision to close lanes lightly, but when we do, drivers must obey the closure. A red X signal is there for the safety of everyone on the road – including people in difficulty, traffic officers, recovery and emergency services helping them, and all other road users besides.”
