Asger Risom
Officials say a fix is being rolled out, but the fallout is expected to continue for months, as some can expect up to £2,500 in reimbursement.
Thousands of motorists across England are discovering that speeding penalties issued over several years should never have been enforced. A newly uncovered technical fault has forced police to halt the use of a large number of motorway cameras and triggered a sweeping review of past cases.
Fault uncovered
According to analysis by the National Highways, a software glitch affecting variable speed cameras on smart motorways and some A-roads has been in place since January 2021. The problem created a delay between speed limits shown on overhead gantry signs and the limits enforced by cameras.
As a result, drivers could legally be travelling at a higher displayed speed, such as 50mph, while cameras were still enforcing a lower limit, such as 40mph. The discrepancy lasted up to 10 seconds.
The issue only came to light after motorists presented dashcam footage in court showing they were driving within the posted limit.
Enforcement halted
Police forces across the UK quietly suspended enforcement after concerns emerged that the data could not be trusted. More than 36,000 speeding cases have already been scrapped, with prosecutions dropped and speed awareness courses cancelled by 22 police forces.
National Highways analysis suggests at least 2,656 drivers were wrongly detected as speeding. In total, 154 cameras are affected, covering all smart motorways and a small number of A-roads, including sections of the A14.
That equates to roughly 38% of speed cameras on motorways and major A-roads in Britain.
Compensation plans
A compensation scheme is now being prepared for drivers who paid fines, attended courses or received penalty points. Some motorists who challenged fines may also have been wrongly convicted, potentially affecting employment.
National Highways said a temporary fix has been agreed, allowing cameras to be switched back on while additional data checks are carried out to prevent further errors.
The cameras remain capable of enforcing the national 70mph limit, and police patrols have been increased in the interim.
Official response
National Highways apologised to those affected, saying points would be removed and fines reimbursed where appropriate. A spokesperson said every impacted driver would be contacted directly.
The Department for Transport said the issue affected less than 0.1% of camera activations and insisted safety was never compromised. Police chiefs added that only a limited number of motorists were wrongly penalised.
The scandal is likely to reignite wider criticism of smart motorways, which have already faced scrutiny over safety and enforcement practices.
Sources: National Highways
