Private hire driver says he drove through 2 sets of RED CROSS motorway signs because he was tired

Image credit : Facebook - NW Motorway Police

A private hire driver who was caught driving straight through two sets of red cross marks on the M56 motorway before crossing in front of a marked police car, said he did so because he was tired.

North West Motorway Police issued a Traffic Offence Report (TOR) to the driver and also notified his licensing authority.

Details of which authority the driver is licensed with were not revealed by the police.

A spokesperson for North West Motorway Police, said: "This Private Hire vehicle was sighted to drive under two sets of red Cross mark’s last night on the M56 and then crossed a verge, directly in front of a liveried X5, ME58.

"A raft of excuses including tiredness given by the driver! TOR issued & licensing notified."

A red X sign indicates that a lane is closed to traffic.

Drivers must stay out of that lane as there may be an incident or people working ahead, and they may need to keep the lane clear to provide access for maintenance or emergency services.

If you’re caught, you could receive a fixed penalty of up to £100 and three points, and in some cases more severe penalties or a court appearance. It’s the responsibility of the police to enforce Red X offences.