Fifth of drivers risk death by using prohibited lanes on smart motorways

 More than a fifth of drivers have ignored red X signs on smart motorways because the Government has struggled to get the message out about how to use them, the RAC said.

Some 23 per cent of 2,093 motorists surveyed by the RAC admitted having driven under the lane closure signs.

Most said they disregarded red Xs “accidentally” but 3 per cent admitted doing so “on purpose”.

On smart motorways, the hard shoulder is used as either a permanent or part-time running lane.

Red Xs are used to indicate when a lane is closed, such as when a vehicle has broken down outside of the emergency lay-bys. It is illegal to drive in a lane closed in this way and offenders can be handed a fixed penalty of up to £100 and three points.

Highways England has been working since 2016 to improve compliance with red X signs. It has issued more than 160,000 warning letters to drivers.

An amendment to legislation that will enable offenders to be punished after being caught by a remote or automated camera has not been completed.

Simon Williams, of the RAC, said: “Red X signs are paramount in safety terms as any stricken driver who has not managed to reach an SOS area is at tremendous risk of being involved in a collision with vehicles that ignore them.

“Drivers understand very clearly what red Xs mean, yet worryingly far too many appear to have driven under one, dramatically putting themselves at risk of encountering a stationary vehicle or a worker in their path.”