Smart motorway - closed lane

[Hungrymc]

Hi all, I’ve just received an “advisory” letter which was inviting me to take a survey to explain why I was driving in a closed lane on a Smart Motorway,

So firstly, I think it a good approach to offer a warning and some information for an initial offense. But secondly, I certainly didn’t drive for any period in a closed lane, it’s quite possible that I drove in a lane which closed while I was in it for a couple of hundred meters while I made a lane change into an open lane (it was two weeks ago, and I recall a little chaos with a vehicle broken down in the 3rd lane of 4... I certainly don’t drive in closed lanes deliberately, and as said, I recal a bit of chaos due to the stranded vehicle and heavy traffic).

So, the lesson seems to be you have less time to leave a lane which has closed than I thought.

[Pistonheader101]

Hungrymc said:

Hi all, I’ve just received an “advisory” letter which was inviting me to take a survey to explain why I was driving in a closed lane on a Smart Motorway,

So firstly, I think it a good approach to offer a warning and some information for an initial offense. But secondly, I certainly didn’t drive for any period in a closed lane, it’s quite possible that I drove in a lane which closed while I was in it for a couple of hundred meters while I made a lane change into an open lane (it was two weeks ago, and I recall a little chaos with a vehicle broken down in the 3rd lane of 4... I certainly don’t drive in closed lanes deliberately, and as said, I recal a bit of chaos due to the stranded vehicle and heavy traffic).

So, the lesson seems to be you have less time to leave a lane which has closed than I thought.

Answered your own question there pal

[Hungrymc]

Pistonheader101 said:

Answered your own question there pal

I know, it’s not so much a question as a bit of advice really. The sign goes to an X, you look for a space, pick a space in moving but heavy traffic, and move into it.... you might be a too late.

Am glad that they are doing a campaign of warnings.

[SlimJim16v]

Hopefully they're only giving warnings to people who were in until they could get out ASAP.
Hopefully they're fining and giving points to everyone else.

[Mound Dawg]

Yeah but the X doesn't suddenly appear out of nowhere does it? It's up on a gantry that you can see for a decent distance, certainly long enough that you can sort yourself out before you pass under it.

Admit it, you were blasting along the empty lane laughing at the "sheeple" queuing in the other lanes weren't you?

[T5R+]

Thought "smart motorways" had a time lag when matrix changes.

Anyone know how it works when display changes from

1. 50 to 60 ie instantaneous
2. 60 to 50 ie lag of 10 seconds?
3. X for lane closed

item 2 in particular is a concern eg do you jump on the brakes if changes whilst you are 50m from the overhead?

[Limpet]

The Smart motorway bit isn't strictly relevant here.

"Highway Code Rule 258

Red flashing lights. If red lights on the overhead signals flash above your lane and a red ‘X’ is showing, you MUST NOT go beyond the signal in that lane. If red lights flash on a signal in the central reservation or at the side of the road, you MUST NOT go beyond the signal in any lane."

There is no grace period at all. Red X = do not pass.

[98elise]

Limpet said:

The Smart motorway bit isn't strictly relevant here.

"Highway Code Rule 258

Red flashing lights. If red lights on the overhead signals flash above your lane and a red ‘X’ is showing, you MUST NOT go beyond the signal in that lane. If red lights flash on a signal in the central reservation or at the side of the road, you MUST NOT go beyond the signal in any lane."

There is no grace period at all. Red X = do not pass.

While I hate people who just ignore Red X's at some point it has to go from nothing to an X, you can't just stamp on the brake and veer I to another live lane.

Speed changes have a delay before the cameras are active, and the same need to be done for closing a lane.

I'm so glad they are starting to to clamp down on this. More than once on my commute there has been a serious accident and morons have blocked the Red X lane because they are more important than the fire and ambulance crews now blocked behind them.

[parabolica]

T5R+ said:

Thought "smart motorways" had a time lag when matrix changes.

Anyone know how it works when display changes from

1. 50 to 60 ie instantaneous
2. 60 to 50 ie lag of 10 seconds?
3. X for lane closed

item 2 in particular is a concern eg do you jump on the brakes if changes whilst you are 50m from the overhead?

1 minute according to the DrivePlus instructors who ran my SAC a year ago; same with variable limits on overhead gantries that have cameras behind them.

[98elise]

Hungrymc said:

Hi all, I’ve just received an “advisory” letter which was inviting me to take a survey to explain why I was driving in a closed lane on a Smart Motorway,

So firstly, I think it a good approach to offer a warning and some information for an initial offense. But secondly, I certainly didn’t drive for any period in a closed lane, it’s quite possible that I drove in a lane which closed while I was in it for a couple of hundred meters while I made a lane change into an open lane (it was two weeks ago, and I recall a little chaos with a vehicle broken down in the 3rd lane of 4... I certainly don’t drive in closed lanes deliberately, and as said, I recal a bit of chaos due to the stranded vehicle and heavy traffic).

So, the lesson seems to be you have less time to leave a lane which has closed than I thought.

The crucial thing is did you cross a Red X? If you didn't and it changed after you passed the gantry then it's not really your fault.

I've assumed the new enforcement would be like passing a red light camera, otherwise it's like being done for speeding when the gantry behind you has changed.

[silver1011]

Do you not get the 'change lane' signs on the preceding gantries before arriving at the red 'X'?

[Muddle238]

My understanding is that the red X doesn't just appear, you will first get the arrow symbols instructing to change lane before the X appears. This is on one particular gantry in the sequence. The preceding gantries will also show the arrow symbols advising to change lane in advance of arriving at the red X. A majority of smart motorway networks that I use have the gantries spaces sufficiently that as you pass under a gantry, you can already see the next one ahead. The enforcement cameras are on the gantries, so you would have to pass beneath a gantry displaying a red X to be caught. Also this means if a gantry red X appears just after you pass the gantry, you should be able to see the next gantry almost immediately and therefore see the red X up ahead.

I wish we had some public information films on smart motorway usage, it appears a majority of drivers don't understand when it's active and when it's not, what the signs mean, when it's permissible to use the hard shoulder etc... It is shocking really how many drivers pass under an illuminated sign that's 20ft wide saying "USE HARD SHOULDER" yet they sit in any lane other than the hard shoulder.

[Alucidnation]

Be thankful you didn’t do it from March onwards.

[Hungrymc]

I could be wrong, may have been a lack of observation on my part, but I don’t think there was a warning of a lane about to close. It went open from a 40 limit to an X. I do remember a lorry stranded in lane 3 (of 4) which I think had only very recently happened... That said, I think I was driving in Lane one or two (I wonder if it was 1 / the hard shoulder which was then closed automatically due to an incident in the main carriagway).

I can’t find any info about the switch over time and prosecution liklehood. Suspect they don’t like to publish this kind of thing so that people can’t try to work to the very fringes of the rules.

As said, it’s possible I passed an X, it will have been the first one though (unless my observations let me down - which I accept is possible) and only while navigating my way out of that lane. Anyway, lesson learned I guess to switch lane more promptly.

I read in the press that they are starting fines for this now. Which I’m fully supportive off and (unless the warning is because it was the first X and I was corrected by the second or something like that) must consider myself lucky to have gotten a warning.

[Hungrymc]

Alucidnation said:

Be thankful you didn’t do it from March onwards.

I am, I know it could have easily been a prosecution. Was Just a bit surprised as I thought I left the lane which closed promptly.... obviously not promptly enough and lesson learned.

[Burnzyb]

I’m glad this is happening, I was on the m1 once and there was a stranded vehicle in lane 3 iirc, lanes 3-4 where closed, all the correct signs on the gantry’s and I sat and watched all the self centered throbbers steaming upto the stranded vehicle in lane 3 and slamming there brakes on and swerving round it causing chaos and putting the stranded vehicle in danger just because they couldn’t be arsed to que like the rest of us, I’d also mention that this wasn’t 1 or 2 vehicles, there was hundreds that must of gone past.

[anonymous-user]

As others have said, from my experience you get the white arrows telling you to move lanes for a few gantries first before the rex X appears.

I read somewhere you get a 30 second grace or something before the lower speed limit is enforced after the signs change.

Burnzyb said:

I’m glad this is happening, I was on the m1 once and there was a stranded vehicle in lane 3 iirc, lanes 3-4 where closed, all the correct signs on the gantry’s and I sat and watched all the self centered throbbers steaming upto the stranded vehicle in lane 3 and slamming there brakes on and swerving round it causing chaos and putting the stranded vehicle in danger just because they couldn’t be arsed to que like the rest of us, I’d also mention that this wasn’t 1 or 2 vehicles, there was hundreds that must of gone past.

Yup, I've done exactly the same before. Was in the outside lane, the signs all lit up to say to move over to the left so I and many others moved over. After a few gantries showing the left arrow they were red crosses, yet still people were charging past us in the closed lane at 60+ mph. Mental.

[T5R+]

Really do not understand why it is so hard to understand these motorways. Follwowing is my understanding but happy to be educated.

• If the sign is illuminated above the hard shoulder showing eg 50mph - then it is a live lane and can be used. If unilluminated or red-X then do not use it. There is a variation on this which states something along the lines of "Jxx Only" - which means move over unless exiting
• If across three of the conventional lanes the signs are illuminated and 2 say eg 50 and the 3rd says 60 - assume an error and either stay at 50 or more into a 50 lane (ie let those wanting to sail past at 60 do so)
• If zero signs illuminated then the conventional motorway limit applies.
• If a lane has a red-X shown then do not use it.
• My favourite is the red roundel with amber text eg displaying 60 - have a guess.

[HannsG]

I'm sure you have all heard the adverts on radio.

The onus is on you as a driver to pay attention. Which is what we all do surely?

It's your fault if you fk up on a Smart motorway. Nice way to pass the buck on eh

[Vipers]

silver1011 said:

Do you not get the 'change lane' signs on the preceding gantries before arriving at the red 'X'?

I only encounter these once a year when I drive south, so can you explain why there are three lanes and four signs, is the X for a slip road maybe?