Britain’s Busiest Speed Camera is Faulty
Southampton drivers have called for refunds after a speed camera on Maybray King Way was found to be faulty. Dubbed as Britain’s busiest speed camera, it caught more than 51,000 motorists breaking the 30mph speed limit. The next-busiest camera caught 13000 fewer drivers speeding during the same three-year period. At its peak, the Southampton camera picked up more than 320 speeders per week at a minimum fine of £100 each. Over three years, fines issued by the faulty camera totalled around £5 million. Hampshire Police have since admitted that the camera had been recording ‘incorrect readings’. The majority of drivers issued with invalid fines had vehicles with a ‘high flat rear’, such as vans and motorhomes.
Comments
RAC road safety spokesman Simon Williams said:
“It’s worrying to think just how many motorists have wrongly been prosecuted as a result of the issue with this camera. As well as paying fines they shouldn’t have had to, some drivers will no doubt have suffered very negative consequences from having points added to their licences. Anyone falsely caught should have both their fine and any points revoked.”
Many drivers have called for refunds, and some drivers going as far as refunds on speed awareness courses and compensation for the loss of earnings.
Some drivers have since come forward, describing how wrong the camera had been.
Nathan Thompson received a letter claiming that he’d been driving his motorhome at 50mph. But he managed to dodge the fine with dashcam footage that proved he was actually travelling at 25mph.
He commented:
“If I was in a hire car or a work car and from outside the area and I didn’t have proof of going 25mph I’d have had to pay it, so I wonder how many other people have been in a similar situation with that camera, as it’s the most profitable in the country. If I didn’t have the evidence that I was going 25mph, then it would have ended up with me going to court. I’d have lost my job. That technology shouldn’t go wrong. It has the potential to seriously ruin lives.”
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Britain’s Busiest Speed Camera is Faulty
