A driver has been ordered to pay nearly £1,000 in fines and costs after losing a court battle to overturn a fixed penalty notice for driving under a red X on the M25 in 2018.

SaferHighways.co.uk reports they were among nearly 300 drivers who were spotted travelling in closed lanes while Police dealt with a crash and diesel spillage.

The Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, and Hertfordshire road policing unit said the signs were in place at junction 20 for Kings Langley to “protect workers carrying out urgent highway repairs”. Officers, parked in a lay-by, said they caught nearly 300 drivers disobeying the gantry signs in just under an hour.

The unit says the majority of drivers ignoring the signs were dealt with via en educational scheme or fixed penalty notice; the latter being a £100 fine and three points on their licence, but one driver took their case to the magistrates court – and lost – and were told to pay £420 after the magistrate took into account the officer’s evidence and video evidence.

The driver then appealed this ruling and took their case to the crown court.

However, the unit revealed on Tuesday that the appeal had been dismissed by the judge, who issued three points on the defendant’s license and told them to pay fines and costs amounting to nearly £1,000.

Following the outcome in court, the unit tweeted: “Please do not drive under a red ‘X’ displayed on a motorway gantry. They are set for the safety of everyone using and working on the road.”

(Picture – Safer Highways)