126 speeding charges dropped due to faulty M27 cameras

The technical problem has already sparked a national scandal, but now the scale of the problem for drivers in the area can be revealed after analysis of court records by the Daily Echo. Hampshire police have dropped 126 cases at court between January 26 and February 2 after a 'technical issue' saw some speed cameras trigger incorrectly. Among the cases scrapped was a 32-year-old woman from Romsey [1] accused of travelling at 95mph on the M27 westbound in 2025, and a 47-year-old woman, from Lee-on-the-Solent, who was accused of driving at 56mph when the limit was 40mph eastbound.

A Southampton man, 61, was accused of having driven on the M27 at 51mph last year when the limit was set to 40mph. These had been registered between junctions nine and ten of the M27 at Fareham. The cases had been set to be heard later in the year, but had been brought forward to be dismissed.

Over a hundred speeding charges dropped because of motorway camera fault (Image: Stock) It is understood that a software update caused variable speed cameras on some A roads and motorways to incorrectly detect drivers as speeding after the speed limit had increased. National Highways said it had identified around 2,650 incorrect camera activations since 2021, less than two per day.

However, as a precaution, a large number of speeding enforcement cases set to be heard this year have been withdrawn. Paul Holmes, MP for Hamble Valley, said: "If it is found that they have not been recording the true speed and people are being prosecuted, then it is good news that those cases are being dropped. "National Highways need to investigate it and make it right.

"If people are paying their road tax and just going to work, they shouldn't be fined when the technology is faulty. "They should definitely make sure the cameras are working and doing the job they should be doing." Over a hundred speeding charges dropped because of motorway camera fault (Image: Supplied)

Caroline Nokes [4] MP said: "I am aware of the smart motorway speed camera fault and the decision to withdraw a number of cases at Southampton Magistrates' Court as a precaution. "This will understandably cause concern for motorists who may have been affected. I have written to National Highways and Hampshire Constabulary to seek reassurance about how this issue has arisen, the scale of its local impact, and what steps are being taken to ensure this is resolved promptly.

"It is essential that enforcement is based on accurate and reliable evidence - where that standard is not met, it is right that cases are reviewed." Southampton taxi driver Perry McMillan said: "It is good news for cab drivers. "If people have been caught not speeding and been able to get reimbursed, that is all well and good.

"You would like to think these cameras worked properly in the first place." A spokesperson for the National Police Chief's Council previously said: "Policing has worked with National Highways to identify a very limited number of motorists who may have incorrectly received a speeding penalty due to an anomaly impacting the way some National Highways cameras interact with their signs and signals on some A-roads and motorways. "This issue affects a limited number of motorists, and if you are affected, you will be contacted in due course.

"Policing enforces a range of offences, including speeding, on the strategic road network through a number of tactics including mobile camera deployments, roads policing patrols and average speed sites.

This remains unchanged."

References

^ Romsey (www.hampshirechronicle.co.uk)
^ Crime commissioner increases share of council tax by ?15 (www.dailyecho.co.uk)
^ New speed cameras in Southampton now fully operational (www.dailyecho.co.uk)
^ Caroline Nokes (www.hampshirechronicle.co.uk)