Drivers across the country have been slapped with huge bills for breaking smart motorway closure rules, according to new data.
Dozens of motorists have been taken to magistrates' courts in England and Wales after being caught driving in a motorway lane that had been shut down temporarily.
Smart motorways have drawn widespread criticism amid concerns over their supposed safety benefits and technological failings, which have led to deaths.
Red "X" signs on gantries above the carriageway can be triggered when there has been an accident, a vehicle is stranded, or work is taking place on the lane.
Cameras across the smart motorway network, which is roughly 375 miles long, are helping to catch drivers breaking the law and issue them with £100 fines.
Despite this, research shows that some drivers have faced a full criminal prosecution for breaking lane closure rules.
A total of 378 drivers have been convicted of ignoring the red X signs after being caught by automatic cameras.
PA reports that this has led to fines of £48,409 being handed out, in addition to £33,255 in costs and £20,183 in victim surcharges.
Motorists who were prosecuted also received three penalty points on their licences, resulting in some being banned from driving.
Rod Dennis, road safety spokesperson for the RAC, criticised motorists for continuing to ignore the red X signs, which are designed to keep road users safe.
He noted that the red X was critical in cases where the hard shoulder has been removed, since it will inform drivers where the accident has occurred.
"We implore drivers to take heed of these signs whenever and wherever they see them – not doing so might very well be putting people's lives in danger," Mr Dennis said.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
- Labour could adopt new vehicle rules from European Union under fresh plans
- Petrol and diesel drivers could save on fuel as almost all UK filling stations make huge change
- Millions of drivers face car insurance nightmare and extra costs over 'minor' changes
In the last week alone, 12 people have been convicted of ignoring the signs through the controversial fast-track single justice procedure.
One driver, Paul Hollowell, wrote to the magistrate and admitted to the offence. He tried to get out of the prosecution by agreeing to pay a fine and sign up to an awareness course.
The 56-year-old from Warrington in Cheshire ended up in court anyway, after his laptop ran out of battery before the online course started.
Mr Hollowell, who works as a school governor, received a fine of £384 and three penalty points from Manchester Magistrates' Court, as well as £120 in costs and a £154 victim surcharge.
Two other motorists, Christopher Harvey, 60, and van driver Andreas Charalambous, 65, were caught within 30 minutes of each other near Junction 18 of the M25.
Mr Harvey stated that there was "no obstruction in front of me", claiming that he couldn't understand how he could have avoided the offence.
He was later fined £177 after entering a guilty plea, while also receiving licence points. Mr Harvey has been ordered to pay £120 in costs and a £71 victim surcharge.
Former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced in 2023 that all new smart motorways would be scrapped due to "financial pressures and lack of confidence felt by drivers".
Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter
