Drivers are being warned that they could face serious consequences when travelling on the motorway after the police issued a stern warning.
Motorists travelling on the M60 experienced a full closure between Junctions 18 and 19 after a road traffic accident closed the busy route.
Despite the closure in place, motorists took matters into their own hands and drove down the hard shoulder, prompting the police to warn travellers.
Greater Manchester Police took photos of the cars that were trying to get to the front of the queue following the traffic incident.
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Greater Manchester Police said drivers would be reported for driving on the hard shoulder
|X/GMPTRAFFIC
Taking to social media, GMP Traffic explained that cars ignored the full closure of the road and were travelling down the hard shoulder.
It clarified that the hard shoulder is always kept clear during an accident to help emergency services attend the scene at a faster pace.
The traffic division of Greater Manchester Police confirmed that drivers would be reported, including the Ford Transit van pictured.
National Highways states that drivers are forbidden from travelling on the hard shoulder unless signs or signals tell them otherwise.
Lancashire Police are cracking down on drivers ignoring the 'red X' symbol
|LANCS POLICE SPECIALIST OPS
If the hard shoulder is misused, the police may send a warning letter informing them of their detection of the offence, or issue a fine and penalty points.
Any and all evidence of non-compliant use of the hard shoulder on motorways across the country is collected and processed by the police.
A similar incident was also seen in Lancashire earlier this week when the police caught motorists ignoring "red X" signs, as drivers could now face prosecution.
Following an accident on the M6 near Junction 32, close to the junction of the M6 and the M55 at Broughton Interchange, motorists were caught breaking traffic laws.
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Lancashire Police closed the road with red X signs warning motorists of the closure, while emergency services attended the scene.
When a red X sign appears, drivers should move to an open lane, rather than continuing to travel in the closed lane.
A police spokesperson said: "For all the people who contravened the red 'X' on the motorway this evening at a road traffic collision prior to Junction 32 of the M6, you can wait to receive your Notice of Intended Prosecution in the post.
"Failure to provide driver details leads to six points on your driving licence and a large fine."
Drivers can be fined £100 for using the hard shoulder in non-emergency situations | GREATER MANCHESTER POLICEA handful of motorists have also attracted the ire of police in Northamptonshire after they were caught filming the aftermath of a crash on the M1.
The police force reported that 12 motorists were seen using mobile phones to film the aftermath of the accident. The drivers have since been sent notices of intended prosecution.
The crash, which caused the death of one driver, also saw 10 people being sent a notice of prosecution for failing to comply with a red X on the closed lane of the motorway.
PC Tom Williams, from Northamptonshire Police's Roads Policing Team, said: "Filming any road traffic collision when you are driving is not only dangerous, but incredibly thoughtless, so I am pleased to see these people prosecuted."