Smart motorways show a red ‘X’ light in the overhead gantry to control traffic and indicate that the lane’s closed. It’s important to know what to do when you see the light as driving in a red ‘X’ lane could cost you a £100 fine and 3 points on your licence.
What motorways in the UK are smart?
There are roughly 375 miles of smart motorway currently in operation, 235 of which do not have a hard shoulder. Almost the entire M25 is now a smart motorway, as well as long stretches of the M1. There are also smart motorway sections on the M3, M4, M5, M6, M20, M23, M27, M40, M42, M56, M60 and M62.
How fast can you go on a smart motorway?
They are a key feature of smart motorways and are used when traffic volumes increase. The monitoring sensors we use activate lower speed limits to smooth congestion and keep you moving. We use 60, 50 and 40mph limits on all types of smart motorways.
Is M6 a smart motorway?
The M6 J13-15 is the first smart motorway upgrade to open with additional emergency areas – five in addition to the originally planned 21 – to give drivers more places to stop in an emergency.
What does 50 mean on a smart motorway?
Temporary minimum speed 50 mph.
Do motorway speed cameras flash randomly?
It is only when you are flashed twice when it takes a picture. If you weren’t speeding then don’t worry about it.
Do motorway speed cameras flash in front or behind?
Most speed cameras are rear facing, however there are exceptions. Truvelo Combi cameras, radar and laser speed guns, and the new ‘Long Ranger’ camera – that can measure speed and check for other driving violations from a kilometre away – all work by facing the front of vehicles.
How do you know if you’ve been flashed by a speed camera?
How do you check if you have been caught speeding? There’s no way to check if you’ve been caught speeding, you will have to wait and see if you receive notice from the local police force in the post, which you should receive within 14 days.
Do motorway cameras flash twice?
You always get double flashed. It takes two pictures, one when you cross the first of the lines and another when you cross the last of the lines, if you haven’t slowed down between the two, that’s when they fine you… if they can be bothered.
Do smart motorway speed cameras have a tolerance?
The MPS speed tolerance level for fixed safety enforcement cameras is 10% plus 2mph.
Which parts of the M6 are smart?
The M6 junction 21a to 26 smart motorway scheme will relieve congestion and smooth the flow of traffic, improving safety and journey times. The design features of the scheme include: variable mandatory speed limits.
Is the M6 70mph?
All four lanes are now fully open to traffic with the 70mph national speed limit restored after motorists faced the pain of a 60mph limit since March 2018. The stretch carries on average 127,000 vehicles a day and the project has cost an estimated £232.2 to £335.4 million.
Do speed cameras on M6 work?
According to motoring organisation the RAC, variable speed cameras “work in a similar way to average speed cameras, but they’re unlikely to be in operation 24/7“. It adds: “They tend to be used on smart motorways when the speed limit is lowered to ease congestion or in the event of poor weather or some other hazard.”
Can you do 100 mph on the motorway?
If you get caught speeding on the motorway at more than 100mph you’ll most likely be banned from the roads, unless you can prove that losing your license would cause you exceptional hardship.
Can you go over 70mph on motorway?
So if you’re in a 70mph zone, 79mph is the absolute maximum. However, you can still get points and fines for going even a couple mph over the speed limit so always be cautious. Everyone speeds a little now and again. I usually do 75mph on the motorway if it’s nice and clear.
Is it illegal to drive at 50mph on a motorway?
Generally, to be fined for driving too slowly on the motorway, you need to be causing some kind of an issue for other drivers around you. In the case that you’ve outlined, where your friend is the support vehicle for you, it’s unlikely that you would be fined for driving at around 50 mph.
Do motorway smart cameras flash?
Do smart motorway speed cameras flash? Smart motorway cameras do not use a visible flash. A unit next to the cameras gives an infra-red flash that allows the camera to operate at night and in low light conditions.
What speed will trigger a speed camera?
Most police forces have a tolerance of 10% plus 2 mph above the limit before a speed camera ‘flashes’. So on a 30 mph road, a camera wouldn’t normally activate unless a car drove past at 35 mph or faster. So for example, On a 70 mph stretch of motorway, the threshold would go up to 79 mph.
What does a double flash on a speed camera mean?
It took pictures of two different vehicles passing at the same time. In other words, in case you notice a double flash of speed camera, just look around if there is another vehicle around you that is over-speeding.
How much over the speed limit can you go?
What is the ‘rule’? The ‘rule’ itself is quite straightforward: if the speed limit is (for example) 30mph, the rule states that you won’t get a speeding ticket unless you are going 10% plus 2 mph faster than the limit.
What happens if you slow down before a speed camera?
Myth 3 – Slowing down or speeding up can fool the camera
The only sure way to avoid triggering the camera is to stick within the speed limit. Driving even faster is not going to do you any good at all. If you are driving at or below the speed limit when driving past the speed camera then you will be ok.