Drivers face £70 fine for failing to spot 'easy to miss' winter road sign

Drivers warned of 'easy to miss' road sign that could cause a £70 fine over winter. CarMats.co.uk highlighted that one of the easiest errors for drivers to make is bus lanes, putting them at risk of a serious penalty, amid the prospect of signs being camouflaged by the white stuff.

They advised: "When it’s dark, it’s easier to miss bus markings and signs, make sure you’re always keeping an eye for these signs to avoid missing them, especially in towns and city centres where you’re more likely to be caught.

"Look out for signs and the white markings in the lanes to avoid any fines." They added: "If you’re driving in new areas, Google the area beforehand, plan your route, familiarise yourself with the right lane to be in and/or use a satnav system that alerts you to bus lanes to avoid confusion and reduce your chances of a fine."

READ MORE: Met Office urges drivers to put nine items in car boot before Wednesday

READ MORE: Drivers wearing 'three items of clothing' could be fined £5,000 from Sunday

READ MORE 29 parts of England set for snow on Tuesday and Wednesday according to Met Office

With nearly 40% of drivers planning a long journey of more than two hours over the festive break, and winter breakdowns on motorways and major A roads increasing by 22% in the last 5 years, statistics unveiled today by National Highways reveal how surprisingly unprepared many road users are for travel during the winter period.

Data shows that winter breakdown incidents on major roads have increased by 22% over the last five years, with tyre issues as the top reason (19.1%) followed by loss of power (7.9%)*. National Highways warns that incidents and breakdowns of this kind can hinder its gritters from treating the roads, potentially leading to additional disruptions and delays.

Duncan Smith, Executive Director of Operations at National Highways, said: “Preparation is key to staying safe during winter journeys and we’re already playing our part by lifting roadworks on key routes in time for Black Friday deliveries next week, helping logistics companies.

“Across the entire winter season, we have Traffic Officers, Control Operators and operations colleagues working around the clock to keep roads accessible, providing a smoother travel experience for all."