Motorists sent 'back to classroom' to learn lessons of smart motorways

Smart motorways operate variable speed limits and can open the hard shoulder to traffic to reduce congestion.

They are becoming increasingly popular as a way of tackling congestion, running on the M6 past its junction with the M54 near Walsall and Wolverhampton and also on stretches of the M5 in the Midlands.

But senior police officers are concerned that the new road rules are confusing motorists and more awareness is needed.

Figures suggest an 18 per cent rise in the number of people caught using the hard shoulder illegally between 2014-15 and 2015-16.

In the last financial year there were 1,014 tickets issued by the 38 forces that responded to a Freedom of Information request, compared with 859 for the previous year.

Among the excuses given were drivers who claimed they were half on the hard shoulder and half in the first lane because it was the fastest route between two places.

Another said they were driving on the hard shoulder because they were looking for signage to their destination.

Concerns have been raised about the safety of using hard shoulders on motorways.

Motorist Anthony Marston, aged 54, from Leegomery in Telford, died on the M6 close to its junction with the M54 in August.

The father-of-two had stopped on the hard shoulder to check a trailer when he was struck by a lorry, an accident that is still under investigation.

The National Police Chiefs' Council wants to create more awareness of the road rules and improve compliance with them.

The details are still to be confirmed, but ideas being discussed include courses for people who break the variable speed limit, use lanes closed with a red X or use the hard shoulder when it has been closed.