A major fault with every variable speed camera on Britain's smart motorways has led to thousands of innocent motorists being incorrectly fined for speeding, an investigation has revealed.
The Four-Year Software Glitch
The scandal, which could cost the Government millions in pounds in compensation, stems from a software glitch that has existed within the system for four years. The error was introduced in January 2021 during a National Highways software update and created a critical time delay.
This delay meant that when a new speed limit was displayed on an overhead gantry sign, the cameras took an extra 10 seconds to react and adjust. Consequently, the mandatory signs and enforcement cameras were out of sync.
For example, a driver could see a 50mph limit displayed but the camera recording them was still operating under a previous 40mph limit, leading to wrongful speeding detections. The issue only came to light after motorists successfully challenged fines in court using dashcam footage as evidence.
Scale of the Fault and Immediate Fallout
The fault affects all smart motorway cameras and some on major A-roads, specifically the HADECS 3 units. In total, 154 cameras are implicated, representing 38% of speed cameras on UK motorways and major A-roads.
Analysis suggests 2,656 motorists have been wrongly detected speeding across 22 police force areas. So far, police have been forced to axe over 36,000 speeding cases, cancelling court hearings and speed awareness courses.
With the data deemed unreliable, police forces secretly switched off the variable speed cameras nationwide. Ministers and police chiefs have now agreed on a temporary fix, allowing cameras to be reactivated in the coming days.
Compensation and Long-Term Fix
A compensation scheme is being established for drivers wrongly fined between £100 and £2,500, forced to attend speed awareness courses, or given driving bans. In severe cases, some may have received incorrect criminal convictions affecting their employment.
National Highways Chief Executive, Nick Harris, stated: "Safety is our number one priority and we have developed a fix for this technical anomaly... Anyone who has been impacted will be contacted by the relevant police force."
While a long-term solution is sought, a new 'data check' system will identify an estimated two erroneous cases per day once cameras are back online. The cameras can still enforce the national 70mph limit, and police are increasing patrols in the interim.
This scandal renews safety concerns about smart motorways, a topic long campaigned on by the Daily Mail. It also highlights the growing reliance on camera enforcement, with 96% of the 2.71 million speeding detections in England and Wales in 2023 made by cameras.
