Drivers who ignore lane closures on smart motorways in England will face automatic £100 fines and penalty points under new laws. The legislation, announced by the Home Office, will allow police to use traffic cameras to penalise motorists caught driving in lanes marked with a red X.
Hundreds of miles of road have been converted into smart motorways, where the hard shoulder is used as a permanent or part-time traffic lane. Red X signs are displayed to close lanes due to accidents or stranded vehicles. Highways England said thousands of drivers ignore these warnings, putting others at 'real risk'.
Previously, police had to catch drivers in the act. Under the new rules, offenders will receive three penalty points in addition to the fine. Highways England noted that more than 180,000 warning letters had been sent since December 2016. The new laws are expected to come into force in late summer.
AA president Edmund King welcomed the measure, saying red Xs are used to warn of obstructions and drivers must leave the lane immediately. He cited recent incidents where AA members' cars were hit on smart motorways.
