Thousands of speeding fines canceled after technical issue with variable speed cameras in England
A software update caused problems with variable speed cameras on some A-roads and motorways in England, leading to incorrect speeding detections. National Highways issued an apology and confirmed a fix has been developed to prevent wrongful prosecutions while maintaining road safety.
Since 2021, about 2,650 incorrect camera activations have been identified, which represents less than two per day and accounts for less than 0.1% of 6 million activations. The issue affected about 10% of motorways and A-roads in England.
The minimum speeding penalty remains a £100 fine and three penalty points. Police forces have temporarily paused issuing fines from variable speed cameras until they can ensure that no motorist is wrongly prosecuted. Anyone who was wrongly fined will be contacted by the police, with fines reimbursed and penalty points removed from licences.
The Department for Transport apologized for the issue, emphasizing that safety was never compromised, that enforcement continues, and that details of a compensation scheme will be announced in due course. The National Police Chiefs’ Council confirmed that police are identifying and contacting a very limited number of motorists affected and that compensation scheme information will be shared when available.
