New motorway cameras will issue AUTOMATIC fines of £100 to drivers who ignore signs

MOTORISTS now automatically face fines for ignoring intelligent highway signs.

New, improved cameras now issue fines for drivers who disobey the red X signs and continue into those lanes.

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The penalty for ignoring lanes and continuing is £100.

Police used to have to spot drivers in the act, but with this new technology, many more fines could be imposed.

Around 100 cameras will be upgraded as part of the move by September.

According to National Highways, the camera upgrade should improve red X compliance and help ensure the safety of drivers and their passengers in trouble, or road workers and emergency services who need a safe place to work.

It also said 330 more signs will be put up to tell drivers the next best safe place to stop in the event of an emergency.

National Highways said, “By the end of September 2022, motorists will almost always be able to see a sign informing them of the distance to the nearest place to stop in an emergency.”

There are also plans to install radar technology on 100 miles of smart highways to better detect cars and vans stranded in active lanes.

Roads Minister Baroness Vere of Norbiton said National Highways is making “good progress” in improving the safety of smart highways.

“This progress report shows that we continue to make good progress in meeting our commitments.

“But there should be no upper limit to safety on our roads, so I will continue to work with the Minister of Transport to ensure that drivers are as safe and secure as possible.”

On January 12, 2022, it was announced that the deployment of smart highways had been halted due to growing safety concerns from MPs.

Ministers said the systems in place would not be reintroduced until five years of safety data had been collected.

This meant that new projects planned for the M3, M40, M62 and M25 will be put on hold.

But others already underway will continue until completed.