Motorists are being issued with an urgent warning after more than 100 drivers were caught breaching red warning lights at a major bridge.
Incidents at Lowestoft's Gull Wing Bridge were detected on 112 occasions during a five-month period, raising serious safety concerns at the £146million crossing.
Bridge operators documented these violations between March and July 2025, with staff in the control tower manually recording each incident before verifying them through CCTV footage.
The recording system was implemented in March after personnel observed that such breaches were occurring with increasing regularity at the bascule bridge, which opened to traffic in September 2024.
Do you have a story you'd like to share? Get in touch by emailing motoring@gbnews.uk
A driver speeding through a red warning light on the Gull Wing Bridge in Lowestoft, Suffolk
|SUFFOLK COUNTY COUNCIL
These red lights signal that the barriers will close and the bridge will lift to allow maritime vessels to pass through Lake Lothing.
The violations represent a significant safety risk, as drivers attempt to rush through the warnings to avoid waiting while the 39.5-metre bascule span rises to accommodate boat traffic.
A particularly serious incident occurred on 20 June when a van sped through the warning signals and struck the barrier mechanism, rendering it unusable.
The collision necessitated immediate repairs to prevent disruption to both road users and maritime traffic passing through the waterway.
Drivers are racing through red warning lights at the £145million lifting bridge to avoid a delay to their journey
|PA
Engineers managed to implement a temporary solution, which meant the bridge could remain operational for vehicles and vessels whilst awaiting permanent replacement components.
Suffolk County Council is now seeking compensation from the van's owning company to recover expenses for both the emergency repairs and a new barrier installation.
That same day, another vehicle, a private car, raced through the red lights, although this second breach did not result in any damage.
The most recent recorded violation happened on 17 July, when a van came close to hitting the barrier but managed to pass through without making contact.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
The majority of these infractions happen during morning and afternoon hours, specifically between 6.30am and 3pm, according to Ben Cook, Head of Contract Management and Commissioning for Suffolk County Council.
Multiple vehicles often follow the initial offender through the lights in quick succession, compounding the danger.
Cook added: "While the numbers of red-light breaches remain relatively low, any instance of poor driver behaviour poses a risk to both safety and bridge operation.
"We are monitoring the situation closely and urge all motorists to respect the warning lights and drive responsibly or they may be subject to further action."
The Gull Wing Bridge was opened in 2024
|PA
Bridge authorities are now evaluating stricter enforcement options, with automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) technology under consideration to identify offending vehicles.
Although no prosecutions have been pursued for the Gull Wing violations to date, the Highway Code mandates that motorists must stop at flashing red lights used at lifting bridges.
Breaching these signals can lead to penalty points, financial penalties, or, in severe cases involving accidents or endangerment, driving bans or criminal prosecution.
Councillor Paul West, Suffolk County Council Cabinet member for Operational Highways, said: "Any red traffic warning light is there for a reason and to gamble on racing through them just to avoid a few minutes wait is highly irresponsible.
"I would appeal to anyone who thinks it is OK to jump a red light to think again - treat these lights as you would the barriers on a railway level crossing, as a measure that is there for your safety and the safety of others."