Faulty Speed Cameras

If you travel the M25 regularly between junctions 10 to 16 you will be aware that there is a variable speed limit in place on that stretch of the motorway. This variable speed limit was put into place to slow traffic down during times of heavy congestion. But as a regular user of this stretch of the motorway you may have noticed the variable speed limit signs being triggered when the traffic is not heavy and moving freely.

The problem is that these variable speed limit signs are directly linked to the speed cameras situated on the gantries over the motorway. The speed at which the cameras start picturing motorists is proportionate to the speed that that is displayed on the gantry signs. So you can see if the variable limit becomes activated during times when the motorway is moving freely it unnecessarily slows down motorway traffic and raises the risk of motorists being pictured for speeding.

A recent article in a highly thought of motoring magazine has revealed that motorists that have been fined for speeding with the addition of penalty points raising their online car insurance premiums may have a case for appeal. The article suggests that there is evidence that the sensors which control the variable speed limit may be faulty. This has resulted in variable limits being enforced during times when the motorway traffic is not heavy and many motorists being caught speeding.

The issue of appeal against speeding convictions has been backed up by the superintendent of the metropolitan police. He believes that if a motorist has been fined for speeding at a time when the faulty sensors have triggered a variable speed limit they have a case for appeal.

In my view if you do not obey the variable speed limit signs on the motorway then you are breaking the law and should be fined with the addition of penalty points to your licence that may increase your online car insurance. There is no excuse for ignoring the signs because you can never be certain that the signs haven’t been activated because of an accident ahead. If this is the case then by speeding you are endangering the lives of other motorists on the road.