Familiarise yourself with the Red X before driving this Christmas
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Driving home for Christmas in the coming days? If so, please familiarise yourself with the red crosses that can be displayed on motorways before you head off.
If there is a red 'X' displayed above your lane of a motorway it means that the lane is CLOSED to all traffic for safety reasons.
This can range from an accident ahead to a broken-down vehicle or other hazard in that lane ahead, even if you cannot see it.
If you see this symbol, you should not continue in that lane and move to another lane as soon as it is safe to do so.
It can be displayed either above your lane, or to the side indicating which lane is closed and which lane to move into.
It is an offence to continue in a lane which has been closed for safety reasons and the offender can be fined up £100 and receive 3 penalty points on your driving licence.
National Highways have now deployed cameras on the motorways which can detected when a vehicle has contravened a red X and these drivers are now being prosecuted for offences on the M1 in Derbyshire.
These cameras will operate both night and day and are activated when the red X symbol is displayed.
Even if you have driven beyond what you believe to be the hazard, DO NOT re-enter that lane until you are instructed that you can. This is normally by indicating that the National Speed limit no applies for your lane.
For more information on the red X symbol please go to the link below