Nearly 1,000 motorists have been caught breaking major safety rules by driving the wrong way on England's motorways in the past year, according to a shocking report.
National Highways data revealed that 988 incidents involving oncoming vehicles were reported this year, marking a concerning 15 per cent rise from the previous year's total of 858.
The alarming figures, obtained through a Freedom of Information request represent an average of 19 wrong-way driving cases recorded every week on England's motorway network.
AA president Edmund King described the increase in wrong-way driving as "frightening" and warned of potentially devastating consequences.
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Drivers have been caught travelling the wrong way on major roads including the M25 and M6
PA
He said: “The consequences of wrong-way driving can be devastating and deadly.” Some incidents were linked to criminals evading police, while others involved drivers blindly following sat navs.
Foreign drivers accustomed to driving on the right side of the road were also cited as a factor, though signs in multiple languages near UK ports now warn drivers to keep left.
Now the AA has called for "a full review of signage and road layout" in locations where genuine mistakes have occurred.
It comes after National Highways recorded two fatal incidents which occurred due to wrong-way driving in 2023.
Five people died in a crash on the M6 near Tebay services in Cumbria on October 15 when a vehicle was caught driving in the wrong direction.
In another tragic incident on February 4, two people were killed and four were seriously injured when a stolen van was driven the wrong way on the M25 in Hertfordshire during a police pursuit. The incident led to an 18-year prison sentence for the driver.
National Highways said it takes immediate action when wrong-way drivers are reported, implementing emergency safety measures.
Speed limits are promptly reduced to 20mph when vehicles are reported travelling towards oncoming traffic.
Electronic warning signals are activated to alert other motorway users of the danger ahead, National Highways explained.
A spokesperson said: "Safety is our top priority which is why we take immediate steps to keep people safe when a report of an oncoming vehicle comes in, such as setting signals to warn and inform drivers, and lowering the speed limit.
"Motorways are designed to be as intuitive as possible to reduce the likelihood of this happening."
Drivers caught travelling the wrong way on roads face severe penalties under UK law. Offenders can be fined up to £5,000 and face up to two years in prison. Wrong-way driving typically results in mandatory disqualification from driving for at least 12 months.
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Drivers can receive 39 penalty points for travelling the wrong way
PAAdditional penalties may include unpaid community work and an electronically monitored curfew. Offenders can receive up to 39 penalty points on their licence and must pay court costs.
"If anyone spots someone driving the wrong way, they should call 999 when safe to do so," the National Highways spokesperson advised.
In a bid to prevent future incidents, the AA has called for improved signage near ports to help prevent incidents involving foreign drivers.
