Thousands of speeding fines could be cancelled after a software update caused some variable speed cameras in England to incorrectly penalise motorists. National Highways has apologised for the error, which has affected a 'very small number' of drivers since 2021.
The technical issue is thought to have arisen from a software update that affected variable speed cameras on some A-roads and motorways. Drivers were incorrectly detected as speeding after the speed limit had increased. The minimum penalty for speeding is a £100 fine and three penalty points.
National Highways chief executive Nick Harris said: 'Safety is our number one priority 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 agency identified about 2,650 incorrect camera activations since 2021, less than two per day, and amounting to less than 0.1% of the 6 million activations in the same period.
The issue affected 10% of motorways and A-roads in England. Police forces have temporarily stopped issuing fines from variable cameras until they are confident no one will be wrongly prosecuted. Anyone incorrectly fined will be contacted directly by the police, with fines reimbursed and any points removed from their licence.
A Department for Transport spokesperson said: 'We apologise to anyone who has been affected. Safety was never compromised, and we are working with policing to ensure nobody is incorrectly prosecuted in future.' The National Police Chiefs' Council confirmed that police forces are working to identify and contact affected motorists, with details of a compensation scheme to follow.
