Look out! Traffic cops' dismay over M-way drivers who put them in danger

South Yorkshire Operational Support officers posted a tweet on Wednesday of their vehicles near Thorpe Hesley exit with a caption reading: “Message boards set for over a mile prior to this live lane breakdown.

“Despite numerous Red X’s advising of lane closures people still drove right up to where we were, putting us at risk!

“It really is not hard, obey the Red X!”

Several Twitter users responded, criticising inconsiderate drivers and the motorway system.

One said: “A hard shoulder, while no guarantee of safety, would still be significantly safer than this ridiculous ‘smart’ motorway scheme. 

“The human condition has seemingly been completey ignored. Driver training would help, as would the presence of police on the road to enforce!”

The police team replied: “We have had three cars patrolling our motorway network all morning — we get out on the motorway quite a lot. 

“We don’t have any say in relation to the all lane running. The implementation and running is down to Highways England.”

Highways England said this week it aimed to repaint emergency areas on smart motorways orange to make them more visible.