Blank:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n\nBlank signs on smart motorways just mean business as usual, so you can drive in this lane at the normal national speed limit for motorways<\/a>. If there is a dynamic hard shoulder<\/a>, only use it emergencies.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n![\"4\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2014\/11\/4.png\")
\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n\n\nArrow with flashing dots:<\/h4>\n\n\n\nThe arrow means you need to move into the next lane in the direction it's pointing. Check the sign above the lane you're moving into - it may be a different speed limit.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n
\n\n![\"3\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2014\/11\/3.png\")
\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n\n\nRed X:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n\nThis means the lane is closed, due to an accident or road works - move into another lane when it is safe. You will also see this over the dynamic hard shoulder<\/a> when it is not to be used except in an emergency.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n![\"5\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2014\/11\/5.png\")
\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\nSpeed limit:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n\nWhen a speed limit is showing it overrides usual motorway rules. The speed shown is the maximum<\/strong> you may go.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n![\"1\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2014\/11\/1.png\")
\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n\n\nNational speed limit:<\/h4>\n\n\n\nThis sign means you can travel at the national speed limit for motorways<\/a>. Don't go into autopilot though - it could change again.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n![\"2\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2014\/11\/2.png\")
\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n\nVariable speed limits<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\nVariable speed limits allow traffic controllers to change motorway lane speed limits with light-up signs instead of the usual national speed limit.<\/p>\n\n
This is to ease congestion: if the limit is slower as you\u2019re driving, you won\u2019t hit the traffic ahead so quickly and it may have cleared by the time you get there. <\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n
\n\n![\"variablespeed\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2014\/11\/variablespeed.jpg\")
\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\nYou\u2019ll still get where you want to go in the same time, but you won\u2019t be stuck in a traffic jam that could take hours to clear. Pretty clever!<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n\nSmart motorway speed cameras<\/h2>\n\n\n\nThe new smart motorways are regulated by speed cameras.<\/p>\n\n
Even though the speed limit on one stretch of motorway could be different from one day to the next, it\u2019s your job to look out for the speed you shouldn\u2019t be going over. <\/p>\n\n
If you don\u2019t, snap<\/strong>. That\u2019s a fine. <\/a><\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n![\"smartmotor\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2014\/11\/smartmotor.jpg\")
\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\nThe cameras are triggered by any speed over the limit currently showing, but at national speed limit (when the signs may be off) the cameras won\u2019t automatically operate \u2013 though they could actually be on at any time if local police choose to use them.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n\nThe dynamic hard shoulder<\/h2>\n\n\n\nUnlike all other motorways, smart motorways make use of the hard shoulder as an extra lane. This is only used to ease traffic jams during busy times.<\/p>\n\n
You'll know it's the hard shoulder because it's still separated by a solid white line, and the sign above will tell you the conditions for its use - like the speed limit.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n
\n\n![\"hardshoulder\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2014\/11\/hardshoulder.jpg\")
\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\nIf there is a red X or NO SIGN<\/strong> showing above this lane, it is NOT<\/strong> in use and you must not move into it unless it's an emergency. Otherwise, the dynamic hard shoulder follows the general rules of smart motorways above.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\nSmart motorways are going to make driving on the UK's busiest roads a lot easier over the next few years. There are a few rules to learn, but it's worth it to avoid traffic jams!
Blank signs on smart motorways just mean business as usual, so you can drive in this lane at the normal national speed limit for motorways<\/a>. If there is a dynamic hard shoulder<\/a>, only use it emergencies.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n The arrow means you need to move into the next lane in the direction it's pointing. Check the sign above the lane you're moving into - it may be a different speed limit.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n This means the lane is closed, due to an accident or road works - move into another lane when it is safe. You will also see this over the dynamic hard shoulder<\/a> when it is not to be used except in an emergency.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n When a speed limit is showing it overrides usual motorway rules. The speed shown is the maximum<\/strong> you may go.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n This sign means you can travel at the national speed limit for motorways<\/a>. Don't go into autopilot though - it could change again.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n Variable speed limits allow traffic controllers to change motorway lane speed limits with light-up signs instead of the usual national speed limit.<\/p>\n\n This is to ease congestion: if the limit is slower as you\u2019re driving, you won\u2019t hit the traffic ahead so quickly and it may have cleared by the time you get there. <\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n You\u2019ll still get where you want to go in the same time, but you won\u2019t be stuck in a traffic jam that could take hours to clear. Pretty clever!<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n The new smart motorways are regulated by speed cameras.<\/p>\n\n Even though the speed limit on one stretch of motorway could be different from one day to the next, it\u2019s your job to look out for the speed you shouldn\u2019t be going over. <\/p>\n\n If you don\u2019t, snap<\/strong>. That\u2019s a fine. <\/a><\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n The cameras are triggered by any speed over the limit currently showing, but at national speed limit (when the signs may be off) the cameras won\u2019t automatically operate \u2013 though they could actually be on at any time if local police choose to use them.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n Unlike all other motorways, smart motorways make use of the hard shoulder as an extra lane. This is only used to ease traffic jams during busy times.<\/p>\n\n You'll know it's the hard shoulder because it's still separated by a solid white line, and the sign above will tell you the conditions for its use - like the speed limit.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n If there is a red X or NO SIGN<\/strong> showing above this lane, it is NOT<\/strong> in use and you must not move into it unless it's an emergency. Otherwise, the dynamic hard shoulder follows the general rules of smart motorways above.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n\n\nArrow with flashing dots:<\/h4>\n
\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n\n\nRed X:<\/h4>\n\n
\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\nSpeed limit:<\/h4>\n\n
\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n\n\nNational speed limit:<\/h4>\n
\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n\nVariable speed limits<\/h2>\n\n
\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n\nSmart motorway speed cameras<\/h2>\n
\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n\nThe dynamic hard shoulder<\/h2>\n
\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nSmart motorways are going to make driving on the UK's busiest roads a lot easier over the next few years. There are a few rules to learn, but it's worth it to avoid traffic jams!