M1 Smart motor Red X

abrown234

Need some advice

I was driving along the M1 last night about 11m between sheffield and nottingham, around J31.

Smart Motorway signs show 40 in the 3 outer lanes,, i'm sat in the second lane, and a get out of lane sign in the left lane.

The left lane was actually unpassable anyway as there was work going on, so couldnt go in it if you tried as was coned off.

Went through the next set of gantries and the cones and work in the left lane were gone(dissapated about 10 meters before the gantry.)

Still going 40 but the guy behind me, despite being able to pass if he wanted as nobody else in the other 2 outer lanes, was right on my tail, so i moved to the left lane to let him through as hate people being right on my tail, about 2 seconds later, see a camera flash, intantly just assumed it for him going over the 40 as he pssed me.

Get to the next set of overheads and all 4 lanes showing national again now. but then i start to wonder if the flash was for me dropping in the previously closed left lane, before the next set of overheads, as possibly my lane was supposed to still be closed(nothing in it of course, the works had ended just prior to the last set of overheads.)

Obviously had nothing through the post yet but i'm pretty worried now that in my attempt to be a 'good motorist' and let the guy pass me, ive effectively done myself over with a driving in a closed lane penalty?

What do you guys think?

Adam

Nobbie1967

Yes, I think you'll be getting a letter fairly soon if you entered a closed lane and were flashed. They seem to be pretty strict on this for obvious reasons.

Bigphil1474

OP, have to agree with Nobbie. If you passed the gantry with the red x showing, it'll be you. Looks like a fine and penalty points too.

abrown234

Oh dear, pretty gutted about that, don't particuarly mind the fine for a mistake on my part, but the points too are a blow, undoubtedly will make my insurance go way up at renewal.

Do you think there is a chance i will be offered one of those 'motorway awareness courses' instead, a quick google tells me they are popular in some areas?

Adam

Car_54

abrown234 wrote: »

Oh dear, pretty gutted about that, don't particuarly mind the fine for a mistake on my part, but the points too are a blow, undoubtedly will make my insurance go way up at renewal.

3 points will probably make little or no difference, unless perhaps you are a new driver.

agrinnall

Car_54 wrote: »

3 points will probably make little or no difference, unless perhaps you are a new driver.

Or currently has 6 points which will be bumped up to 9.

abrown234

Still nothing through the post.

Do they actually review the footage for these things?

AndyMc.....

abrown234 wrote: »

Still nothing through the post.

Do they actually review the footage for these things?

Yes but the computer will produce the paperwork

abrown234

So perhaps if nothing by end of this week I have been spared then.

AJGuy

That’s such a bummer! I don’t want to get your hopes up but I was flashed by one of the new highway agency cameras a while ago for a slight overspeed when the smart motorway was on... never heard anything!

Just remember for the next time and fingers crossed it wasn’t for you.