A significant technical error has forced authorities to cancel thousands of speeding fines issued to drivers across England. The fault, linked to a software update for variable speed cameras, led to motorists being incorrectly penalised.
Software Glitch Triggers Incorrect Penalties
The problem originated from a software update applied to variable speed cameras used on certain motorways and A roads. The glitch meant cameras failed to register when speed limits increased, incorrectly detecting drivers as speeding. This issue has been active since 2021, with National Highways estimating around 2,650 incorrect camera activations in that time.
Nick Harris, Chief Executive of National Highways, stated: “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 confirmed the erroneous activations represented less than 0.1% of the six million total activations over the period, equating to fewer than two per day.
Reimbursement Process and Immediate Action
In response to the discovery, police forces have temporarily halted issuing fines from the affected variable speed cameras. This pause will remain until confidence is restored that no further wrongful prosecutions will occur.
Authorities have assured the public that anyone who received an incorrect fine will be contacted directly by the police. The process will involve reimbursing the fine and removing any penalty points from the driver's licence. The minimum penalty for speeding is a £100 fine and three penalty points.
A spokesperson for the Department for Transport 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.” They emphasised that enforcement continues and only motorists who genuinely break the rules will face penalties.
Scope of the Problem and Ongoing Fix
The technical issue impacted approximately 10% of motorways and A roads in England. National Highways is now working to implement a permanent solution as swiftly as possible.
The National Police Chiefs’ Council confirmed that forces are identifying and contacting a “very limited number of motorists”. They reiterated that other enforcement methods, including mobile cameras and patrols, remain fully operational. Details of the compensation scheme will be shared with affected individuals in due course.
