Warning to UK drivers risking fines over motorway mistake

New research has revealed widespread confusion about smart motorways and the use of Red X lane closures, just as many motorists prepare for long journeys during the summer holiday season.

Almost half (48 per cent) of drivers did not know that entering a lane marked with a Red X is illegal, according to the study commissioned by temporary car insurance provider Tempcover.

Last year Motorists who ignored a lane collision following a crash on the M6 are being warned to expect a letter in the post.

Despite repeated warnings not to ignore the red X sign on motorways, Lancashire Police said that a number of drivers drove through the lane, despite it being clearly marked by the letter.

Automated cameras now enforce these closures 24 hours a day, but nearly two-thirds (63 per cent) were unaware that the offence carries an automatic £100 fine, and 62 per cent did not know it results in three penalty points on their licence.

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More than half of drivers (56 per cent) said they did not realise that smart motorway cameras can automatically detect and fine those who enter a closed lane.

Claire Wills-McKissick, temporary car insurance expert at Tempcover, said: “The automated cameras monitoring Red X closures operate continuously, and the data shows many drivers haven’t adjusted their behaviour to reflect that.

“Entering a closed lane carries real risk: an automatic £100 fine, three penalty points, and in serious cases, a court appearance.

“Red X signs exist to protect everyone on the road – the driver ahead who has broken down, the emergency services responding, and the people in the vehicles behind.

“Ignoring them or responding too late doesn’t just risk a penalty; it puts all road users in genuine danger.”

A Freedom of Information request submitted by Tempcover revealed varying levels of enforcement activity across the UK.

Derbyshire Constabulary recorded a 1,300 per cent increase in Red X-related Notices of Intended Prosecution when comparing April and October 2024 and the same period in 2025.

Kent Police reported a tenfold rise, from 47 notices to 470.

Conversely, Thames Valley and West Midlands police forces recorded sharp decreases.

Staffordshire Police, which recorded the highest overall detection volume of the responding forces, found that the most commonly detected vehicles were the Volkswagen Golf, Nissan Qashqai, Toyota Prius, Ford Focus, and Vauxhall Corsa – some of the UK’s most popular models.

The findings suggest that Red X violations are being committed by ordinary drivers in everyday vehicles, rather than a specific group.

Among those surveyed, seven per cent admitted to having driven in a Red X lane, either accidentally or deliberately.

Nearly one in five (19 per cent) said they would do so if they failed to notice the sign until it was too late to change lanes safely.

A further 12 per cent said they would enter a closed lane if they felt unable to move safely due to traffic.

Of the drivers who admitted to the offence, one in three (33 per cent) received a fine, notice of intended prosecution, or penalty points as a result.

The research also highlighted broader confusion about smart motorways, with fewer than half (45 per cent) of drivers saying they feel safe using them and nearly a quarter (23 per cent) admitting they do not fully understand how they work.

Miss Wills-McKissick said: “Concentration can drop on long motorway runs, and that’s precisely when a missed Red X signal becomes a costly mistake.

“A temporary second driver policy runs completely separately from your main annual cover, with no impact on the car owner’s no-claims bonus, arranged from as little as one hour.

“It’s one of the most practical ways to manage fatigue on a long summer journey and keep everyone on the road safer.”

The Government cancelled future smart motorway expansions in 2023, but the existing network remains fully operational.