The smart motorway signs and cameras covering a large section of the M60 and M62 have been fully operational for a little over six months now. And many drivers may be getting used to the variable speed limits and lane closure signs.

But a new law could cost drivers money and points on their licence if it’s ignored.

From Monday 10 June, motorway drivers that ignore the ‘Red X’ lane closed signs on motorways will be slapped with an automatic £100 fine and three points on their licence.

This has always been the law and the penalty has always been the same, but now the home office has ruled that automatic camera can be used to boost enforcement.

The new rule will apply on all smart motorways including sections of the M6 and the stretch between Sale at junction 8 of the M60 and Rochdale at junction 20 on the M62. It will also apply to other smart motorway sections of the M62 and M56 when they are completed over the next few years.

A smart motorway map of the UK.

Replying to a Highways Agency tweet about the change, many drivers appeared to be positive about the change. Many highlighted fairness and safety concerns for emergency services, contractors and other people that may be stranded in lanes.

Are Smart Motorway Cameras Active When the Board Is Blank?

The £208m project covering the M60 and M62 was completed at the end of July last year, but the cameras were only switched on in January after the police finished commissioning work.

Something that has been confusing a lot of motorists is what happens when there are no variable speed signs above the motorway. Some rumours on the internet rumours suggest that the speed cameras are still operational and will flash anyone travelling over the national speed limit (70 MPH).

This is an example of one rumour that has been shared thousands of times by multiple accounts on Facebook. But parts of it at least appear to be false.

First, three points is the standard penalty for speeding. Six points are usually reserved for drivers travelling at speeds far in excess of the speed limit.

Highways England has confirmed that smart motorway cameras ‘are capable’ of enforcing the speed limit even when there’s no speed limit displayed on the boards.

But the agency also said that it is the decision of the local police force whether they pursue prosecutions for these detected offences.

Having spoken to several drivers who regularly use the smart motorway around the M60 and M62, it doesn’t look like the national speed limit is being enforced on this stretch of motorway.

But this could change and the police could easily hit drivers with a £100 fine and three points or a speed awareness course.

When driving on the motorway, we urge everyone to stay below the national speed limit and variable speed limits when in force.

Working from our Manchester City Centre location, we know how frustrating it can be to find cheap, reliable parking that’s close to your final destination.

Some city centre parking firms will cost you well over £10 for the right to leave your car in a multi-storey eyesore. Thankfully though, there are still some places where you can park at a reasonable price.

We have mapped out some of the cheapest locations and included a few details about them below. We want this map to grow over time, so if you know about any other cheap car parks in Manchester, please let us know on Twitter.

And if you ever need to get your car serviced or MOTd, remember that you can leave it in our Manchester garage for the day, free of charge. 

  1. Duffy Motors FREE*

Duffy Motors offers FREE City Centre parking to all customers that bring their cars in for an MOT or service. We have enough space to cater for several clients every day.

Drop your car off, get it serviced or MOT’d, and pick it up when you are finished at work. For more information about our car maintenance services, speak to a member of the team today. Call: 0161 834 4168.

Duffy Motors – 16-17 Watson St, Manchester M3 4LP.

  1. Red Bank £2.50

A hidden gem in Manchester, Red Bank Car Park is tucked away behind the NOMA development and Victoria train station. At £2.50 it’s almost definitely the cheapest car park in Manchester, but some of the online reviews warn about a few unsavoury characters and thefts.

There are a couple of car parks around the corner including Roger Street Car Park, which is about the same price, with friendlier attendants.

Parking Places – Red Bank, Faber Street, Manchester, M4 4HF

  1. Bridgewater Street £6.00

Castlefield is a popular side of town, with the Hilton, Bridgewater Hall and other attractions. But there are a few cheap parking spaces and patchy public transport links. Located next to Castlefield Urban Heritage Park, Bridgewater Street Car Park is a very happy find at just £6.00 for the day.

They also offer secure overnight and weekly parking – but it is cash only and manned by an attendant.

City Centre Parking – 28 Bridgewater St, Manchester M3 4NH

  1. NCP Manchester Palace £6.50

Tickets for the Palace? Maybe you are doing something else around Oxford Road. This secure multi-storey car park occupied an attractive red-brick building in a historic part of town. You can pay £6.50 for 12 hours of parking, but only if you grab an early bird ticket between 6.00 and 9.00AM.

If you are coming for an evening performance, then it might be a little more expensive. And you should watch out for the queues after the curtain has closed.

NCP Car Park Manchester Palace – Palace, Whitworth St, Manchester M1 6NE

  1. Rochdale Road £3.00

Located close to the Manchester Arena and around a ten-minute walk from the Northern Quarter, this is another cheap and cheerful car park on the outer rim of Manchester – just outside the ring road.

Run by Total Car Parks, motorists can pay £3.00 to park all day. The site is quite large as well, so suitable for drivers who work in the city.

Total Car Parks – 87 Rochdale Rd, Manchester M4 4HY

  1. NCP Piccadilly Gardens £6.00

Another early bird ticket, this time at the centrally located NCP Piccadilly Gardens, near the train station. Just like at the Palace, if you get to this large city centre car park before 6.00 and 9.00 in the morning, you can park for 12 hours for £6.00. Not a bad deal for the location.

And because it is a smart building run by a reputable company, you can be fairly sure that your car won’t be left on a pile of bricks.

NCP Car Park Piccadilly Gardens – Piccadilly, Chatham St, Manchester M1 3AY

Cheapest on-street parking in Manchester

It’s often easier to park on the street rather than in a car park. Manchester has a lot of on-street parking spaces, but it helps if you know where the cheapest areas are.

Motorists can park for up to two hours in zones one and two on the below map. But did you know that you can save 20 pence on a two-hour parking ticket if you find a spot in zone two compared to zone one?

Zones three and four are cheaper still. Two hours parking in zone three or four will set you back £2.50, less than half as much as the £6.00 it costs in zone one.

The max parking time in zone three is three hours while in zone four it is ten hours.

Map from Manchester City Council.

A new survey ranking the UK’s motorway service stations shows that some of the best and worst rest stops are on major road links in and out of Manchester.

Independent transport watchdog Transport Focus surveyed 8,700 visitors at all 112 service stations asking customers to rate the toilets, staff friendliness, food prices and more.

Overall, 90% of drivers said that they were satisfied with their visit, but there were large disparities across the country.

One of the closest service stations to Manchester City Centre scored a 100% satisfaction rating. Rivington Services Northbound, on the M61 near Bolton, ranked second overall, beaten to the post by Reading Services Westbound.

Drivers who are heading south on the M6 may consider stopping at nearby Knutsford Services, which ranks 6th overall in the service station rankings.

If you are travelling from Manchester to London via the M6 and the M1 then you could split the drive with a stop at third place Corley Services, which is almost halfway between the two cities.

Norton Canes Services on the M6 Toll also ranks highly in 7th position, but drivers are advised to avoid the nearby Stafford Southbound Services which was only beaten to the bottom of the rankings by Heston Services on the M4.

Top spots for a rest break

  1. Reading Services Westbound
  2. Rivington Services Northbound
  3. Corley Services Northbound
  4. Gloucester Services Southbound
  5. Gloucester Services Northbound

Worst of the bunch

  1. Toddington Services Southbound
  2. Rownhams Services Northbound
  3. Rownhams Services Southbound
  4. Stafford Services Southbound
  5. Heston Services Eastbound

How we use service stations

The survey also gave some interesting information about how we use motorway service stations and what business and leisure users think about them.

The survey found that service station users were typically on a journey of three and a half hours, with business and leisure users tending to take a break after being on the road for an hour and a half. Leisure users typically stopped for 20 minutes while business users stopped for15 minutes.

Only 42% of visitors planned to stop at a particular service station, three quarters (77%) used the toilets and half (50%) bought food or drink to eat in the motorway service station.

Contrary to much perceived wisdom about motorway service stations, 64% of service station visitors said that they though food and drink at their service stations was good value for money.

A report from insurance provider Admiral released earlier in the year, found that users in some parts of the country could pay four times more for a ham sandwich in a service station than a local supermarket.

Mood boost

Driving while tired, stressed or otherwise unhappy can be dangerous, particularly on long journeys.

The survey also asked drivers about their mood before and after using the facilities at the service station. They found that visiting a motorway services typically resulted in a 20 percentage point boost in positive emotions and a 17% decrease in negative emotions.

A quarter (25%) of people reported feeling tired, frustrated or stressed when they arrived at the service station, but only 9% reported these feelings when leaving. This highlights the beneficial impact motorway services can have on driving standards and safety on the roads.

Anthony Smith, Chief Executive of Transport Focus said: “Our research shows that up and down the country motorway services are providing customers with a good experience and are playing a positive role in helping them rest and recharge before continuing to drive. They tell us they feel less stressed and are more awake after a good break.

“Motorway service operators must not rest on their laurels however; our message is clear – use the results to deliver even higher levels of customer satisfaction in future.”

Transport Minister John Hayes said: “Motorways services can and should be lovely places for drivers to enjoy not just places they have to stop.

“Congratulations to those scoring the most highly. They show what can be done when what motorists want and deserve drives what is on offer.

“But users’ needs and expectations are constantly evolving. Now I want to go much further to raise and meet those expectations. My new taskforce will bring together industry and independent experts to look at how services can be fit for future motorists and reflect the particularity of localities which host these important facilities. Thoughtful design and a range of goods and services can make all motorway services as good as the best.”

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