By Terri-ann Williams For Mailonline
Published: 07:03 BST, 16 May 2019 | Updated: 08:50 BST, 16 May 2019
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Thousands of drivers are set to be slapped with £100 fines and penalty points against their license for ignoring warning signs on smart motorways.
The new technology will allow police to use traffic cameras to penalise motorists who don't abide with the lane closures on 300 miles of the network.
New rules under the Road Traffic Offenders Order 2019 will come into effect from June 10 and Highways England have insisted that cameras won't be used to penalise drivers until 'late summer' to allow for testing.
The Home Office has been criticised for a delay in authorising cameras which will detect drivers swerving around breakdowns and accidents, leading to fines – as it was thought the new process would have been implemented 12 months ago.
New rules under the Road Traffic Offenders Order 2019 will come into effect from June 10 and Highways England have insisted that cameras won't be used to penalise drivers until 'late summer' (stock image of speed cameras)
Smart motorways controversially operate without a hard shoulder and at present use red 'X' warnings on overhead gantries to close lanes, which can indicate stranded vehicles in the road ahead.
The fear, is that too many drivers are ignoring the signs and swerving around incidents, therefore risking a crash.
The present system means that Highways England issues written warnings to drivers pictured ignoring the red X.
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