Drivers are said to be ignoring smart motorway lane closures causing Highways England to plan a roll-out of roadside cameras to issue fines and penalty points.
Brits could be slapped with the new driving fines on the motorway from March 2018.
Roadside cameras that would automatically snap drivers breaking the law are “currently being tested”, according to the Press Association.
Highways England said motorists ignoring red X signs on overhead gantries is “dangerous” and it has already sent 80,000 warning letters to drivers who have broken smart motorway rules since December 2016, with around a third relating to driving in closed lanes.
Violations would be treated the same as running a red light – a £100 fixed fine and three penalty points – meaning cameras would rake in over £250,000 a year.
The Press Association revealed the roads agency wants to bring in the new laws from as early as next spring.
Traffic cops can already slap you with an on-the-spot fine if they see you breaking the rules but the new plans would introduce roadside cameras to catch offenders more regularly.
Smart motorways involve using the hard shoulder for traffic unless a red X indicates it is closed, normally because of an accident or broken down vehicle – plus add variable speed limits.
Sections of the M1, M4, M5, M6 and M42 have already been modified, with 480 lane miles being added to England’s motorway network.
A Highways England spokesman said: “Safety is at the heart of everything we do, and our roads are among the safest in the world.
“We close lanes for a reason, and drivers ignoring red Xs put themselves and others at risk.
“Since we started issuing warning letters, we have seen a decrease in the number of drivers ignoring lane closures.”
Smart motorways have endured a tough time, with safety groups condemning the lack of hard shoulder and the spacing of emergency areas.
Highways England guidance is for the lay-bys to be no more than around 1.5 miles apart, but campaigners believe this distance should be at least halved to reduce the chances of a broken-down vehicle stopping in a live running lane.
