Red 'X' on the motorway - what does it actally mean?

[Studio263]

We were out on the M25 yesterday, going north just past the M4 junction. The speed limit signs were set at 40 because there was someone / something in the road. The signs also showed that lane 4 was going to be closed ( I I I T). The traffic therefore bunched up into lanes 1 to 3, as you would expect. However, there is always someone who knows better and these people were sticking with lane 4.

As we crawled along we eventually went under a gantry with '40' over lanes 1 to 3 and a red 'X' over lane 4. However, people were still going through in lane 4 and seemingly making no effort to join the other open lanes.

What does the red 'X' mean then - carry on if you feel like it? It makes the idea of breaking down in lane 1 even more frightening - even if they spot you on the cameras (not guaranteed I've heard) and put the red 'X' on the traffic will still keep coming. Do you get busted if you drive in a lane with a red 'X' over it?

[FMOB]

It means the lane is closed and anyone driving in it is an idiot putting other people's lives at risk.

They should be severely prosecuted.

[CharlesElliott]

You are not allowed to be in a lane and pass a red X.

https://nationalhighways.co.uk/road-safety/red-x/

[CoolHands]

Is this how braindead the nation has become

[essayer]

Mods, ban

[Vasco]

Studio263 said:

We were out on the M25 yesterday, going north just past the M4 junction. The speed limit signs were set at 40 because there was someone / something in the road. The signs also showed that lane 4 was going to be closed ( I I I T). The traffic therefore bunched up into lanes 1 to 3, as you would expect. However, there is always someone who knows better and these people were sticking with lane 4.

As we crawled along we eventually went under a gantry with '40' over lanes 1 to 3 and a red 'X' over lane 4. However, people were still going through in lane 4 and seemingly making no effort to join the other open lanes.

What does the red 'X' mean then - carry on if you feel like it? It makes the idea of breaking down in lane 1 even more frightening - even if they spot you on the cameras (not guaranteed I've heard) and put the red 'X' on the traffic will still keep coming. Do you get busted if you drive in a lane with a red 'X' over it?

I can only assume that a lot of people haven't read the Highway Code. Aren't we all supposed to be aware of the contents, as updated ?

[J__Wood]

A fixed penalty of up to £100 and three points?
A year old but https://www.fleetnews.co.uk/news/car-industry-news...

[WilliamWoollard]

A red X is essentially a red traffic light and should be treated as such. Do not proceed in the lane. It's surprising how blaze/ignorant of red X's we are in this country, considering how respectful we are of red traffic lights.

[Tony1963]

I just find it incredible that, at least to save some pride, someone couldn't Google "red x motorway lane".

[Collectingbrass]

Studio263 said:

We were out on the M25 yesterday, going north just past the M4 junction. The speed limit signs were set at 40 because there was someone / something in the road. The signs also showed that lane 4 was going to be closed ( I I I T). The traffic therefore bunched up into lanes 1 to 3, as you would expect. However, there is always someone who knows better and these people were sticking with lane 4.

As we crawled along we eventually went under a gantry with '40' over lanes 1 to 3 and a red 'X' over lane 4. However, people were still going through in lane 4 and seemingly making no effort to join the other open lanes.

What does the red 'X' mean then - carry on if you feel like it? It makes the idea of breaking down in lane 1 even more frightening - even if they spot you on the cameras (not guaranteed I've heard) and put the red 'X' on the traffic will still keep coming. Do you get busted if you drive in a lane with a red 'X' over it?

This sort of behaviour is all too common on the M25, not helped by the technology not existing(*) to prosecute those who do pass the red X and the gantries often showing more than 1 red X before the closure starts, especially in that section.

.* "They've been saying it's coming for years but it can't come soon enough

[Vipers]

CoolHands said:

Is this how braindead the nation has become

Indeed, on link clearly shows this

Sometimes a Red X signal needs to be set far in advance of an incident to provide access for emergency services. Or to help you re-join the motorway from an emergency area. When you see the Red X, it means the lane is closed and you must not use it/

But we have some idiots on our roads, some seem to throw the HC book away when they pass their test, some are just plain brain dead.

Dont gantrys which has these signs over them, ie speed limits etc, have a a camera on the other side of them to catch the egits?

[Silverbullet767]

Hasn't this stupid question been asked before many years ago? I seem to remember someone else asking the exact same thing and being equally appalled at the time.

[Oceanrower]

Silverbullet767 said:

Hasn't this stupid question been asked before many years ago? I seem to remember someone else asking the exact same thing and being equally appalled at the time.

I was giving the OP the benefit of the doubt that this was a rhetorical question but…

[RS_MAN_CHILD]

Its 3 points & £100 fine so avoid & take care its usually because of some dangerous road obstruction...many drivers just ignore them though! prefer 3 points instead......!

[CanAm]

Studio263 said:

We were out on the M25 yesterday, going north just past the M4 junction. The speed limit signs were set at 40 because there was someone / something in the road. The signs also showed that lane 4 was going to be closed ( I I I T). The traffic therefore bunched up into lanes 1 to 3, as you would expect. However, there is always someone who knows better and these people were sticking with lane 4.

As we crawled along we eventually went under a gantry with '40' over lanes 1 to 3 and a red 'X' over lane 4. However, people were still going through in lane 4 and seemingly making no effort to join the other open lanes.

What does the red 'X' mean then - carry on if you feel like it? It makes the idea of breaking down in lane 1 even more frightening - even if they spot you on the cameras (not guaranteed I've heard) and put the red 'X' on the traffic will still keep coming. Do you get busted if you drive in a lane with a red 'X' over it?

I think a lot of people on here didn't bother reading to the end of the OP's post.

[Countdown]

WilliamWoollard said:

A red X is essentially a red traffic light and should be treated as such. Do not proceed in the lane. It's surprising how blaze/ignorant of red X's we are in this country, considering how respectful we are of red traffic lights.

Not ignorant. More likely to be self-entitled wkers who think they can pick and choose which rules should be followed - the same types who choose to ignore red lights because "they know better"

[markymarkthree]

Hopefully there will be a camera clicking away like a mad thing in the red X lane.

[Pica-Pica]

markymarkthree said:

Hopefully there will be a camera clicking away like a mad thing in the red X lane.

Hopefully. Also, there will be prior warning (a ‘move over’ arrow) before the red X.

[Glenn63]

80% of the time it means the signs are incorrect/ broken/ whoever’s setting them is useless at their job but you’ll get a ticket anyway.
But also means that lane is closed, if it was a gantry with a camera then a fine would follow.

[Vasco]

Glenn63 said:

80% of the time it means the signs are incorrect/ broken/ whoever’s setting them is useless at their job but you’ll get a ticket anyway.
But also means that lane is closed, if it was a gantry with a camera then a fine would follow.

Can't really agree with that. Most of the time they're set accurately - but idiots drive through regardless.