10,000 drivers caught by M-way speed cameras in just five months
ALMOST 10,000 motorists driving through roadworks on the Black Country stretch of the M6 have been snared by average speed cameras in just five months.
The cameras were deployed on the stretch heading south between junctions eight and seven after the limit was cut to 40mph.
But thousands of drivers chose to ignore the restricted limit – and have been left facing fines.
The limit was slashed as a safety precaution as vehicles were guided across the carriageway by yellow markers, travelling much closer together than normal.
The average speed cameras were switched on in July, two months after the roadworks started.
West Midlands Police revealed it had sent out 9,697 Notice of Intended Prosecution tickets out since then.
It meant around 500 drivers were caught by the speed cameras every week.
Those who were caught out were left facing a fine or a court appearance, depending on their driving record. Some were made to take a driving awareness course or had points added to their licence or a fine.
Those who had racked up points on their licence previously ran the risk of being taken to court.
The £4.2 million bridge repairs project caused misery for motorists, with regular delays since May. Concrete repairs were made to the bridges which carry the traffic over the Rushall canal, as well as the M5 to M6 southbound link road. That was followed by renewing the waterproofing and surfacing on the routes.
The news comes as drivers are braced for another major motorway roadworks scheme due to start in the spring.
Maintenance work on the Oldbury viaduct, between junctions one and two of the M5, is due to get under way in April and is likely to last more than a year.