National Highways to fix erroneous speeding fines

Variable speed limit mistakes have meant more than 2,000 camera flashes that shouldn't have been

By Matt Bird / Tuesday, 16 December 2025 / Loading comments

Plenty of us will surely have been caught speeding, only to swear that we were travelling slower. But there’s the evidence, in black and white: the maximum speed limit, and the speed of your vehicle, image complete with you at the wheel (usually). An open and shut case. Except for around 2,650 recent instances, where variable speed limits and cameras haven’t quite been in sync, meaning drivers have been flashed despite their speed being legal for the changed limit. A delay meant the cameras weren’t up to speed (pun intended, sorry) in time.

It’s an anomaly that’s being investigated by National Highways, with a fix apparently coming soon. While only said to have affected 10 per cent of the ‘Strategic Road Network’ (England’s motorways and big A-roads), and with that 2,650 number meaning less than two errors a day since the first issue was identified from 2021, it obviously won’t feel like a small issue for those drivers impacted.

Especially if it’s meant points, courses, and more money in insurance premiums. In a statement, National Highways has said any fines will be reimbursed, and points ‘removed from their licence where relevant’; everyone affected by the speed camera snafu will be contacted directly. And maybe buy a festive lottery ticket if you’re one of the lucky ones.

Chief Executive of National Highways, 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. All drivers should continue observing the posted speed limits as normal. Anyone who has been impacted will be contacted by the relevant police force.” So don’t go thinking that dreaded flash next time could be a mistake; all being well, this will be the last that’s heard of it…