Red X

[piper107]

Driving on the motorway you see an overhead gantry reading Red X Enforced . now if you came across this sign and you could see the road ahead was clear (as far as you could see) would you actually stop in the lane your in as instructed. Or carry on as I think most drivers would drive pass you.also the risk of being rammed in the rear like on a non existent hard shoulder ?
Just a thought .

[barry1010]

A red X means the lane is closed and I would either move to a different lane or avoid that lane as I don't want a £100 fine

[Buenchico]

If it's just a single 'X' showing, rather than all lanes being blocked, you're not expected to stop. You're simply required to move to an open lane.

[bookbinder]

https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/car-news/consumer-news/97664/motorway-red-x-signs-now-enforced-by-cameras

[Mamyalynne]

Drivers should familiarise themselves of what the 'Red X' actually means.

[TheWinner]

it means you should move into an open lane. https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/car-news/consumer-news/97664/motorway-red-x-signs-now-enforced-by-cameras

[New Judge]

//...would you actually stop in the lane your in as instructed.//

When did you last read the Highway Code?

[douglas9401]

Other engine additives are available.

Users should not drink them, even with a lemonade top-up.

[piper107]

I've seen all 3 lanes closed one time on a tv doc and drivers still drove on.so what would you do ?

[piper107]

New judge enlightenment me on you question

[bookbinder]

I think that the OP means, when he writes "...actually stop in the lane your (sic) in...", he means "...actually stay in the lane..."

[bhg481]

Nearly all driving licences are renewed at least every 10 years. Maybe any application for a renewal should be accompanied by a simple questionnaire about Highway Code changes which have occurred in the last few years. Only a 100% pass rate would result in a licence renewal.

[ToraToraTora]

red x does not mean stop anyway but you should go no further in that lane.

[bobbinwales]

//I think that the OP means, when he writes "...actually stop in the lane your (sic) in...", he means "...actually stay in the lane..."//

I din't read it that way as piper then says you would be rammed in the rear which suggest's he means as your stopped

[douglas9401]

Even if stop in lane translates as stay in lane it's wrong but you're to be commended for your charitable thoughts, bookbinder. :-)

[New Judge]

//I've seen all 3 lanes closed one time on a tv doc and drivers still drove on.so what would you do ?//

If a red “X” is shown over all lanes then you must stop. If I encountered that situation I would stop for two reasons: I do not want to commit an offence; I would not know why the closure had been imposed. The fact that I might see the road is clear doesn’t mean much. There could be loose animals around or people wandering about, neither of which I might see.

//New judge enlightenment me on you question//

I asked it because if you had read it recently (or even some time ago) you would know that the question you posed contained some incorrect information:

“…would you actually stop in the lane your in as instructed. Or carry on as I think most drivers would drive pass you.also the risk of being rammed in the rear like on a non existent hard shoulder ?//

The red “X” over a single lane doe not instruct you to stop (as explained above). You need only stop if all lanes are similarly signalled.

[piper107]

ok i should have texted if all lanes were on red x and you were the first car approaching them with both other lanes busy too it would take a brave man to stop and hold up everyone behind you, fine or no fine

[New Judge]

//...it would take a brave man to stop and hold up everyone behind you, fine or no fine//

No it wouldn't. I've been in the situation where, although I wasn't the first, I was near the gantry when the lights came on. The first vehicles that could do so stopped. If nobody is willing to be the first for the reasons you mention, nobody would ever stop and the idea would be pointless.

[bobbinwales]

//it would take a brave man to stop and hold up everyone behind you, fine or no fine//
Thanks for clarifying your earlyer point.
Are you now agreeing that if you were the first car in your lane (as the redx had just come on) you'd be be expected to change lanes as quickly as possible. Its unlikely the sign would come on just as your reaching it-, you should see it maybe 200 metrs before

[AuntPG]

This happened to us some months ago on the M1 Very rarely do the lights just come on all of a sudden. We got warnings to slow down immediately, 50/40/20 mph and within 500 metres everything had come to halt over the three lanes. It was because of a crash and we had to wait nearly an hour for it to get cleared.

[New Judge]

A good point made, AuntPG. In almost all instances the red X does not illuminate suddenly. Traffic is usually slowed in steps as you describe.