Thousands of drivers wrongly issued speeding fines since 2021

Consumer Editor

4 minute read|18th Dec 2025

Thousands of drivers across the UK have been wrongly fined for speeding since 2021 due to a technical anomaly in the way some variable speed cameras interact with roadside signs.

National Highways confirmed that the issue, affecting certain A roads and motorways, caused a delay between the cameras and the changing speed limits displayed on signs.

This meant that some motorists were incorrectly detected as speeding after the limit had already changed.

Investigations have revealed approximately 2,650 incorrect camera activations since 2021, averaging fewer than two per day.

While this figure represents only a fraction of the more than six million activations recorded on the affected roads during the same period, it has still led to drivers facing wrongful enforcement action.

Those impacted will be contacted directly by their local police force. They will be reimbursed and have any penalty points removed from their licences where applicable.

The Government and National Highways has advised motorists who believe they may have been affected to wait for official contact, stressing that no action is required on their part at this stage.

Investigations are now ongoing to ensure the issue is fully resolved and that confidence in the system is restored.

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Following the revelation, Transport Secretary wrote to the House of Commons.

He said: “I wish to inform the House about a technical anomaly that has impacted how some variable speed cameras interact with signs on a limited number of A roads and motorways for a number of years. I would like to apologise to all who have been affected.

“This issue has led to incorrect enforcement action being taken in a small number of cases, which I recognise will have been frustrating for those involved.

“National Highways confirms that this technical anomaly has occurred approximately 2,650 times on the impacted cameras over four years since 2021.

“I have instructed National Highways to continue its investigations back to 2019, when the upgrade of cameras began. This will ensure that we can be fully confident that anyone who has been impacted is identified.

“We will ensure that there is an independent investigation into how this technical anomaly came about, to ensure that lessons can be learned.”

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