A new survey has revealed that nearly half of UK motorists are unaware that driving in a motorway lane marked with a red cross is always illegal, potentially resulting in a £100 fine and three penalty points. The research, conducted by Tempcover and seen exclusively by Express.co.uk, polled 2,009 drivers and found that 48% did not know entering a closed red cross lane is a legal offence.
Widespread Ignorance of Penalties
The survey also showed that 63% of drivers were unaware of the £100 fine, and 62% did not know it carries three penalty points. Furthermore, over half (56%) had no idea that smart motorway cameras can automatically detect and fine drivers for using a closed lane.
Claire Wills-McKissick, temporary car insurance expert at Tempcover, warned: "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."
Why Red Cross Lanes Exist
Motorway gantries display a red cross over certain sections to indicate the lane is closed to all traffic, often to protect a broken-down vehicle, manage accidents, or due to roadworks. Ignoring the sign endangers not only the driver but also emergency responders and other road users.
Wills-McKissick added: "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."
Driver Behaviour and Risks
The survey found that 7% of motorists admit to having driven in a red X lane, either accidentally or on purpose. Meanwhile, 19% said they would drive in a closed lane if they did not notice the red cross until it was too late to safely change lanes. Additionally, 12% would continue in the lane if they felt trapped with no safe gap in traffic to move over.
Wills-McKissick commented: "Concentration can drop on long motorway runs, and that's precisely when a missed Red X signal becomes a costly mistake."
