Motorway rules
On some smart motorways, when may you drive in the hard shoulder as a normal lane?
- Only when a speed limit is shown above it and no red X closes itCorrect
- Whenever the traffic is heavy
- At any time, day or night
- Only when you are towing a trailer
Why?
On an all-lane or dynamic smart motorway the hard shoulder can become a running lane. Rule 269 of The Highway Code says you should not use the hard shoulder unless signs or signals above it show it is open, for example a speed limit. A red X above it means it is closed.
Highway Code rules 269, 258