Good to see Labour-supporting Daily Mirror eventually catching up with Greater London Transport Newsletter when it published: “OVER 36,000 MOTORWAY SPEED TICKETS WRONG – up to £2,500 available in compensation for each wrong ticket.”
“We led back in June with: “National Highways has admitted that a software problem on its variable speed limit cameras wrongly recorded around 2,650 drivers as speeding when they were inside the limit,” says Richard Town of GLTN. “And that’s just the first tranche of identified innocent motorists being refunded. ‘As a precaution’ more than 36,000 speed awareness courses have been cancelled, and fixed penalty fines refunded’.”
Yesterday (August 19th), Daily Mirror publishes: “Major UK motorway speed camera glitch: 36k fines cancelled”.
What The Mirror adds is the remarkable admission – originally unearthed by The Times – “More than ten months after the national issue was identified, the malfunctioning cameras are still being put through Home Office tests after having been corrected. They’ve not yet been approved for use.
“While they wait for approval, police forces are not issuing any enforcement notices for speeding motorists caught by the faulty cameras. The faulty ANPR gantry camera system was first identified in January but then hushed up.
“Shortly after the camera flaws were exposed, Nick Harris resigned as chief executive of National Highways after five years in charge with sources stating that he had lost the board’s confidence.”
An independent review ordered by our out of the country Labour Minister for Transport Heidi Alexander – hopelessly being out manoeuvred by her civil service – into Highways Agency handling of the issue is due this summer. But not yet been published.
External affairs lead at the RAC Simon Williams said: “It’s very concerning that this has not been fixed and that so many speeding drivers are not facing consequences. We urge Government to address this as a matter of priority.”
The problem affects all smart motorways including M1, M6, M5 M25 and M42. As news of these motorways not yet enforcing speed limits in some areas reaches drivers – a fine triggered at 10 per cent +2mph of the gantry-indicated, sign indicated, or national 70 mph speed limit – motorway users will want to see the accident statistics: before, during, and after camera replacement. Does enforcement really reduce accident rates?
Former Met Traffic & Transport Police Officer Richard Town comments: “Keep an eye on the stats – if they’re ever published. Speed does not kill. But misuse of speed does. Driving at speeds above the national speed limit should not, of itself, constitute a points’ offence leading to disqualification.
“But dangerous driving, inconsiderate driving should of course still be prosecuted. Driving at a speed commensurate with road conditions – particularly on the motorway network – should be taught and examined as part of the driving test.
“If there’s no danger caused then there should be no points applied to a safe driver’s license just for the speed offence alone”.
Brian Gregory, Policy Director for The Alliance of British Drivers (ABD), said: “We have the figures demonstrating that the Emotion, Distortion, Extortion based “the answer’s a speed enforcement device, what’s the question?” policy completely fails to address the UK’s primary road traffic accident causation behaviours. It is therefore abjectly failing to save lives.
The ABD’s report follows on after this.
“We have also detailed the simple (but largely non-monetiseable) solution to the road safety stagnation problem.
“Why does no-one want to pay attention? Follow the money…?”
You can see the Mirror article here:
https://www.mirror.co.uk/lifestyle/motoring/major-uk-motorway-speed-camera-37567292
ENDS
Author Richard Town is a former GLC councillor and metropolitan police driver. He writes here on behalf of The Alliance of British Drivers (ABD).
For all media enquiries, contact Paul Naylor on 07914 304 504 or email paul@mediaandyou.co.uk
Notes: Founded in 1992, the Alliance of British Drivers (ABD) is the leading organisation promoting the interests and concerns of drivers in the United Kingdom.
The UK has over 37 million drivers – that is a majority; we should stop tolerating the way we are treated by the government and local councils.
Cars, vans and taxis account for 80% of the mileage of all trips in the UK, and over 65% of goods being carried by road. The road network, and the people who use it, are of vital importance to the nation’s economy. Drivers should expect the road network to be improved and maintained to a standard that is fit for purpose. They should be able to use the roads in a safe and responsible manner without being subject to unreasonable charges, restrictions or penalties.
