What went wrong
HADECS cameras on smart motorways and some major A roads enforce variable speed limits, which change on overhead signs depending on traffic. National Highways found that there was, at times, a slight delay between the cameras and the signs. That meant some drivers were caught after the limit had changed, and could be recorded as speeding against the old limit.
According to the Department for Transport (DfT), the fault occurred about 2,650 times since 2021, out of around 6 million camera activations, and affects 154 cameras on about 10% of the strategic road network. The problem started when the cameras were upgraded, and investigations go back to 2019.
An activation is not the same as a fine. The DfT says not every activation led to enforcement, so the number of drivers actually fined is lower than 2,650. Some reports have described all 2,650 as drivers wrongly fined, which overstates it.
Refunds and points
In a written statement to Parliament in December 2025, transport minister Simon Lightwood said the government "will provide financial redress":
- Anyone who was wrongly fined will be refunded.
- Where points were wrongly added to a licence, they will be removed.
- Steps will be taken to put right incorrect prosecutions.
National Highways has given data to the police so they can contact the people affected, and the police will deal with the most serious cases first.
What to do if you think you were affected
- Wait to be contacted. Police forces are working through the cases, so you should not need to pay anyone to claim for you.
- Keep your paperwork. Hold on to your notice of intended prosecution, fixed penalty or court letters, payment receipts and any speed awareness course confirmation.
- Check your licence. You can see the points on your licence for free. Read our driving licence check guide.
- Be wary of scams. Be careful with unexpected messages offering speeding refunds that ask for bank details or a fee.
Is the review finished?
No. An independent review, led by DfT non-executive director Tracey Westall, is looking at how the fault happened and why it was missed. Its terms of reference were published in January 2026, and it was expected to take at least 18 weeks. We have not found a published report yet.
National Highways stopped sending variable speed data to police in October 2025, and a fix approved by the Home Office is being put in place. Mobile cameras and police patrols still enforce limits, and fixed limits on other roads are unaffected. See how much a speeding offence could cost with our speeding fine calculator.
Questions drivers ask
Which speed cameras had the fault?
154 HADECS cameras on National Highways roads in England that enforce variable speed limits, mainly on smart motorways.
How many drivers were wrongly fined?
Fewer than 2,650. That figure counts wrong camera activations since 2021, and not every activation led to a fine.
Will I get my speeding fine back?
The government says anyone wrongly fined will be refunded and any wrongly added points removed. Police are contacting the people affected, starting with the most serious cases.
Are smart motorway speed cameras switched off?
No. Speed limits are still enforced, including by mobile cameras and police patrols, while a fix is put in place.
Sources
- GOV.UK: Speed enforcement on the strategic road network, written statement by Simon Lightwood MP (16 December 2025)
- GOV.UK: Independent review on the National Highways speeding enforcement issue: terms of reference (19 January 2026)
Facts checked against the sources above on 3 November 2026. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
