A significant technical fault with variable speed cameras on some of England's busiest roads has triggered a major review of thousands of speeding penalties. National Highways has issued a public apology after confirming that a "very small number" of motorists were incorrectly fined due to the glitch, which has been active since 2021.
What Caused the Speed Camera Fault?
The problem is believed to have originated from a software update affecting variable speed camera systems. These cameras are used on smart motorways and certain A-roads to manage traffic flow and safety by adjusting limits. The error caused cameras to incorrectly register vehicles as speeding after the displayed limit had legally increased, leading to unjustified fines.
National Highways stated that the issue impacted approximately 10% of motorways and A-roads across England. An internal investigation identified around 2,650 incorrect camera activations linked to the fault over the past few years.
Official Response and Driver Reassurance
Nick Harris, Chief Executive of National Highways, moved to reassure the public. "Safety is our number one priority," he said, "and we have developed a fix for this technical anomaly to maintain the highest levels of safety on these roads and make sure no one is wrongly prosecuted."
The Department for Transport also commented, emphasising that road safety was not compromised. A spokesperson confirmed: "We apologise to anyone who has been affected. Enforcement is still in place, and the public can remain confident that only motorists who break the rules will be penalised."
Next Steps for Affected Motorists
The National Police Chiefs' Council has confirmed that police forces are now working to identify and contact the drivers who received erroneous fines. A spokesperson indicated this involves a "very limited number of motorists" and assured that those affected will be contacted directly with details of a compensation scheme.
For context, the standard minimum penalty for speeding in the UK is a £100 fine and three penalty points on a driver's licence. Accumulating 12 or more points within a three-year period typically leads to a driving disqualification.
Authorities stress that all other speed enforcement methods—including mobile cameras, police patrols, and average speed check zones—remain fully operational and unaffected by this specific technical issue.
