Variable speed camera anomaly
Case reference FOI2026/00103
Received 24 January 2026
Published 24 March 2026
Request
Information requested: Please can you supply the following under The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Ref your statement and recent disclosure that National Highways variable speed camera anomaly a technical anomaly dating to 2019 that has impacted how some variable speed cameras interact with signs on a limited number of A roads and motorways for a several years.
Please can you supply copies of any disclosable details, documentation , emails letters in respect of the below:
When did the National Highways first become aware of the software issue. Which Date ?
Which team discovered the fault ? Which software cause the fault ?
Which company built the software ? What is the name of the software fault ?
Which team/ dept discovered this fault ? How was this fault identified ?
Copies of all disclosable meeting minutes in respect of the software fault When did the National Highways inform the Police of this error ? Which date ?
Which police department and which police force was first made aware of this fault. ?
How was this communicated ?
When was NDORS organisation first made aware of this fault ?
Why has it taken from 2021 to 2025 for this fault to be identified and made public ?
How was the identification of 2,650 innocent drivers completed ?
Which team / dept completed the identification of the 2650 innocent drivers ?
Why have there been 36,000 speeding cases cancelled ?
How were the 36,000 speeding cases identified ? Who identified the 36,000 speeding cases and decided to cancel them ?
How was the identification of the fault communicated between the Highways Authority and the police – what date was this first communication ?
What is the cost of cancelling 36,000 speeding cases ?
Why has the scope of the issue been extended to 2019 ?
What is the nature of the temporary fix in place - National Highways is implementing a fix to address an anomaly detected in the way some variable speed cameras interact with signs on some A roads and motorways.
Who is responsible for the monitoring of the current software in use and how are you verifying its success ?
How has the temporary fix been communicated to the police forces in the UK What are the requirements of the police forces in respect of the temporary fix ?
Clarification
Clarification received on 9 February 2026:
Good Afternoon In respect of your question and to provide clarification: On this point When did the National Highways first become aware of this issue. Which Date ?
I would like if possible, for you to confirm when did National Highways dept first become informed of any issue with the software update / variable speed camera data /anomaly which date ?
What is the first recorded date of any concerns being raised to National Highways dept ref issue with the software update / variable speed camera data/Anomaly
Ref this question you have asked
Please can you supply copies of any disclosable details, documentation , emails letters in respect of the below:
Please can you reduce the scope of this request to answering the questions supplied within the initial request.
Response
We have addressed each of your questions in turn below -
I would like if possible, for you to confirm when did National Highways dept first become informed of any issue with the software update / variable speed camera data /anomaly which date ?
What is the first recorded date of any concerns being raised to National Highways dept ref issue with the software update / variable speed camera data/Anomaly
On the 9 January 2025 a query was raised by Avon and Somerset police, this was first National Highways heard of a potential issue. Please note that this addresses all 3 points above.
Which team discovered the fault ?
There is an anomaly between how the cameras and signs interact with each other that results in a slight delay between cameras and variable speed signs. This anomaly was identified by National Highways Digital Services directorate following the query raised by Avon and Somerset police.
Which software cause the fault ?
There is an anomaly between how the technologies interact with each other that results in a slight delay between cameras and variable speed signs, as such there is no software that has caused the fault.
Which company built the software ?
As above there is no software fault and therefore there is no company responsible for building faulty software to provide.
What is the name of the software fault ?
As above, there is no software fault and therefore no name for it.
Which team/ dept discovered this fault ?
National Highways Digital Services directorate discovered the anomaly.
How was this fault identified ?
The anomaly was discovered through a thorough review of all the relevant data.
When did the National Highways inform the Police of this error ? Which date ?
National Highways informed the National Police Chiefs’ Council on week commencing 20 October 2025 via e-mail.
Which police department and which police force was first made aware of this fault. ? How was this communicated ?
National Highways informed the National Police Chiefs’ Council on week commencing 20 October 2025 via e-mail.
When was NDORS organisation first made aware of this fault ?
Under Section 1(1)(a) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 we can confirm that National Highways does not hold this information. This action is likely to have occurred via the police and therefore, if you haven’t done so already, you may wish to contact them for this. Directions on how to do this can be found at https://www.npcc.police.uk/About-Us/governance-and-accountability/foi-and-subjectaccess-request/
Why has it taken from 2021 to 2025 for this fault to be identified and made public ?
No issues were raised prior to 2025, as such the anomaly was not identified until 2025.
How was the identification of 2,650 innocent drivers completed ?
It is incorrect to say there were 2,650 drivers affected. That number refers to the number of camera activations likely to be affected by this anomaly during this time. Only a small number of those activations would have resulted in enforcement action. The camera activation data was reviewed and assessed against the rapidly changing signal data and the cases where the anomaly may have occurred was identified at that time. This information was then passed to the police to review against their enforcement records.
Which team / dept completed the identification of the 2650 innocent drivers ?
As above, this number does not refer to the number of drivers. Enforcement is a matter for the police.
Why have there been 36,000 speeding cases cancelled ?
The cancellation of speed enforcement courses was a decision by policing. How were the 36,000 speeding cases identified ? Under Section 1(1)(a) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 we can confirm that National Highways does not hold this information. This is a matter for policing and you should contact them. Directions on how to do this can be found at https://www.npcc.police.uk/About-Us/governance-and-accountability/foi-and-subjectaccess-request/
Who identified the 36,000 speeding cases and decided to cancel them ?
Under Section 1(1)(a) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 we can confirm that National Highways does not hold this information. This is a matter for policing and you should contact them. Directions on how to do this can be found at https://www.npcc.police.uk/About-Us/governance-and-accountability/foi-and-subjectaccess-request/
How was the identification of the fault communicated between the Highways Authority and the police – what date was this first communication ?
Question is already asked and answered above
What is the cost of cancelling 36,000 speeding cases ?
Under Section 1(1)(a) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 we can confirm that National Highways does not hold this information. This is a matter for policing and you should contact them. Directions on how to do this can be found at https://www.npcc.police.uk/About-Us/governance-and-accountability/foi-and-subjectaccess-request/.
Why has the scope of the issue been extended to 2019 ?
National Highways is continuing to investigate data back to 2019, when the supplier implemented this system. This will ensure that we can be fully confident that anyone who has been impacted is identified.
What is the nature of the temporary fix in place -
National Highways is implementing a fix to address an anomaly detected in the way some variable speed cameras interact with signs on some A roads and motorways. National Highways is providing additional data to the supplement data already provided from the HADECS speed camera system to the police. This allows the police to ensure no enforcement action is taken when this anomaly has occurred.
Who is responsible for the monitoring of the current software in use and how are you verifying its success ?
National Highways is accountable for the HADECs cameras. How has the temporary fix been communicated to the police forces in the UK Through the National Police Chiefs’ Council.
What are the requirements of the police forces in respect of the temporary fix ?
Under Section 1(1)(a) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 we can confirm that National Highways does not hold this information. This is a matter for policing. Directions on how to do this can be found at https://www.npcc.police.uk/AboutUs/governance-and-accountability/foi-and-subject-access-request/.
Advice and Assistance
Safety has been National Highways' priority throughout, and then swiftly ensuring that any incorrect penalties are rectified.
National Highways have identified approximately 2,650 total erroneous camera activations on impacted roads since 2021, which is the equivalent of fewer than two a day.
To put this in context, during this period there have been more than 6 million activations on the impacted roads. Not all activations are enforced so the amount of people impacted will be lower than this. This anomaly impacts just 10% of the Strategic Road Network, which is made up of motorways and major A roads in England.
Anybody affected will be contacted directly by the relevant police force. They will be reimbursed and have points removed from their licence where relevant. Steps will be taken to remedy any incorrect prosecutions.
Documents
This is National Highways' response to a freedom of information (FOI) or environmental information regulations (EIR) request.
You can browse our other responses or make a new FOI request.