Smart motorways will be upgraded with cameras to catch out any motorist who drives through a closed lane marked with a red x. The agency warns road users will receive a fixed penalty of £100 if they are caught and will have three points issued on their driving licence.
Beds, Cambs and Herts Road Policing teams confirmed hundreds of prosecutions have been made since the introduction of variable matrix enforcement gantries.
In a social media post, a Highways England traffic officer confirmed there would always be warning signs fitted before a red X to allow motorists time to get into position.
The officer said: “Before a red X signal there will be prior signage in the form of lane diverts.
“These are set far enough back so traffic has time to move over safely and in good time before contravening the red X and potential obstruction ahead.”
Social media users were shocked at the poll results after several motorists claimed they regularly saw motorists breaking the rules and passing through the closed lanes.
One user said: “Amazing how the % is so high considering more than 93% of drivers pass through them (sic).”
Another motorist said they have given up counting the red X offenders they have seen as they claimed hundreds of motorists were passing through clsoed lanes on the M56.
Fines and penalty points for those who break the rules and travel in a closed lane were introduced from June 2019.
Research conducted by the RAC last year found almost a quarter of motorists put their lives at risk by ignoring the signs.
Around half of road users claimed to see other road users regularly ignoring the signs and breaking the law.
The RAC study found two-thirds of road users were in favour of cameras being installed on the roads to catch offenders.
RAC head of roads policy, Nicholas Lyes said: “Giving the police the ability to use cameras to catch drivers flouting the law is a necessary next step – and is something our research tells us a majority of drivers are supportive of.
“The simple message for drivers is this – as soon as you see a red X sign, move over into an open lane safely.”