UK’S variable speed limit hotspots
£21m in fines in four years Top five revenue-raising cameras in the UK named
THE UK’S variable speed camera hotspots have been revealed after new figures showed more than 210,000 motorists have been caught out by sudden speed limit changes and handed fines totalling at least £21million.
Variable speed cameras, which can go down as low as 20mph on ‘smart’ motorways, have caught 210,538 drivers since 2013, according to figures from insurance comparison site Confused.com. The standard fine for speeding is £100 and three penalty points, although penalties can rise to £2,500 plus a driving ban.
According to police records, drivers near Bristol have been hit with the most fines. Cameras on the stretch of M4 between J19 and J20 have been responsible for 40,320 penalty notices since going live in 2014.
This is followed by cameras on the M5 in South Gloucestershire between J16 (Almondsbury) and J17 (Easter Compton) with 27,398 penalty notices, and cameras on the M1 J10 and J11 at Luton with 21,751 penalty notices. However, new cameras on the M4 between J25 and J28 near Newport, Monmouthshire, installed just six months ago, have already fined 13,000 drivers and could join the top five (see table) soon. Edmund King, president of the AA, told us that some drivers may be punished undeservedly by the speed cameras on ‘smart’ motorways. He said: “Motorists often sensibly adapt their speed to the prevailing conditions and traffic flows, but all too often the overhead speed limits do not reflect this.
“It is also helpful if the overhead gantries can always give an accurate reason for reduced speeds. There are some places where these signs are deployed, but their use appears to be inconsistent.” The research found 78 per cent of drivers caught by variable speed cameras said they had been caught out by the sudden changes to speed limits when following normal traffic.
Amanda Stretton, motoring editor at Confused.com, said: “There seems to be a perception among drivers that variable speed cameras on smart motorways are there to catch people out. We’d advise drivers to research their route before heading out to take note of any areas where there may be a dramatic drop in speed.”
“According to police, drivers near Bristol have been hit with most fines”