Highway Code: Drivers risk speeding fine over motorway myth
Millions of us use the motorway everyday, but may be putting ourselves at risk of a speeding fine due to an incorrect understanding of motorway cameras.
One motoring expert has warned drivers not to get caught out by an old tale that could leave them with a fine, points on their licence and even a driving ban.
Graham Conway, from leading vehicle leasing firm Select Car Leasing, explained that a surprisingly large number of drivers still believe smart motorway cameras are NOT in operation all of the time.
What can fail an MOT test?
That's false – and gantry cameras can still snare speeders going above 70mph even when no variable limit is in place.
He said: 'We hear this quite often, but it's something that could potentially ruin your day if you get it wrong.
'It appears that many motorists think the speed cameras on smart motorways are only in operation when the matrix signs on the gantries show a variable speed limit, say 50mph or 60mph.
'They are aware that they need to slow down when they see this, but wrongly believe that at other times they won't get clocked breaking the speed limit, as long as they don't encounter the police.
'This simply is not right. Online motoring forums are full of accounts from drivers who've been caught out in such a manner.
"And the penalties for breaking the speed limit on a motorway can be severe. That's as well as being dangerous and putting lives at risk, of course.'
Smart motorways have become a prominent feature of the UK's road network, offering increased capacity and improved traffic flow.
Recommended Reading:
But these dynamic highways also come with unique safety considerations. They utilise variable speed limits to manage traffic flow and enhance safety – depending on traffic conditions, accidents or roadworks.
The smart motorway speed camera myth is one of many commonly-held misconceptions that can catch out drivers.
Another is that there is no speed limit on the M6 toll road, in the West Midlands, because it is run by a private company – which is also incorrect.
Mr Conway added: 'The big message here is simple: Don't speed. Road safety charity Brake! says speeding contributes to 105,000 road crashes and leads to more than 1,500 deaths every year.
'Good drivers are aware of the rules and abide by them, while also being conscious of the conditions on the day and what other road users are doing.
'It can be tempting at this time of year, when schedules are busy and you're trying to get somewhere on time, to put your foot down.
'But it's much better to get there slightly late and still in one piece than to not get there at all.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Auto Express
2 days ago
- Auto Express
Car Deal of the Day: Get the Range Rover look for (a lot) less with the Jaecoo 7 for £244 a month
Imposing styling Packed with standard equipment Only £243.85 a month Jaecoo is another Chinese brand new to the UK car market, and if you go by recent sales figures, it's starting to become a popular choice among Brits. Little wonder with deals like this, because, for well under £250 a month, you can get the Jaecoo 7 SUV that has Range Rover-like looks, is packed with technology, and is very affordably priced. Advertisement - Article continues below This deal, from Select Car Leasing, through the Auto Express Find a Car service, sees you taking the keys to a brand-new Jaecoo 7 for just £243.85 a month. This three-year deal requires a £3,280.20 initial payment, while mileage is capped at 5,000 miles a year. This can be tweaked to 8,000 a year for just over £8 extra a month. The Jaecoo 7 has the same underpinnings as the similarly cheap Omoda 5 – featured last week as a Deal of the Day – but parent company Chery feels the Jaecoo is a cut above. That probably explains why Jaecoo has seemingly looked to Range Rover for some styling inspiration, with the 7's rear end having more than a hint of Range Rover Evoque about it. The slim headlights, boxy dimensions, and large grille all give the car added presence, too. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below This deal gets you the entry-level (and curiously old-fashioned-sounding) Deluxe model. But, like with many Chinese new entrants, base-spec doesn't equal poverty-spec like on some rival European offerings. Deluxe brings a 13.2-inch touchscreen, 10.25-inch digital driver's display, wireless smartphone charging, a 360-degree camera system, heated front seats, ambient lighting, a full-length panoramic sunroof and more a whole heap of advanced driver-assistance systems. Powering the 7 is a 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine mated to a seven-speed automatic gearbox. It packs 145bhp and gets the aspirational high-rider to 62mph in a very leisurely 10.3 seconds. Fuel economy is a decent 37.7mpg claimed. The car's ride and handling are outshone by the majority of European rivals, but if styling and equipment at a cheap price are high on your list of requirements, the Jaecoo 7 could be worth a look. The Car Deal of the Day selections we make are taken from our own Auto Express Find A Car deals service, which includes the best current offers from car dealers and leasing companies around the UK. Terms and conditions apply, while prices and offers are subject to change and limited availability. If this deal expires, you can find more top Jaecoo 7 leasing offers from leading providers on our Jaecoo 7 hub page. Check out the Jaecoo 7 deal or take a look at our previous Car Deal of the Day selection here… Find a car with the experts Car Deal of the Day: Super sci-fi Kia EV6 for an exceptional £260 per month Car Deal of the Day: Super sci-fi Kia EV6 for an exceptional £260 per month Our Deal of the Day for 31 May is an extremely attractive price for this extremely capable electric family car Nissan Qashqai vs Dacia Bigster: big-selling SUV faces a brand-new threat Nissan Qashqai vs Dacia Bigster: big-selling SUV faces a brand-new threat The Bigster is Dacia's largest model yet. How does it compare with the ever-popular Nissan Qashqai? Car group tests 31 May 2025 2026 Land Rover Defender updates look subtle, but they fix one huge annoyance for owners 2026 Land Rover Defender updates look subtle, but they fix one huge annoyance for owners Land Rover has introduced new, larger white-painted steel wheels for models with big brakes, fixing one massive irritation with the previous generatio…
South Wales Argus
2 days ago
- South Wales Argus
How you could get a roadside fine amid new DVSA changes
The alteration came into effect earlier this week, and is intended to make the process simpler for drivers. It comes as the DVSA has started using a new company to process payments for roadside fines. This will enable drivers to use their smartphones at the roadside to pay for several offences. The DVSA has the authority to issue Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) for various offences related to vehicle condition, driver hours and licensing, impacting both domestic and international drivers. What could I get a roadside fine for? Some common offences that could see drivers hit with a DVSA roadside fine are listed below. Driver's House and Tachograph Offences Exceeding daily or weekly driving time limits Not taking required breaks or rest periods Failing to use a tachograph Using a defective or tampered tachograph Falsifying or failing to produce tachograph records Vehicle Roadworthiness Driving with defective brakes, tyres, lights, suspension, or steering Dangerous load securing or overloaded vehicles Failure to carry out proper daily walkaround checks Operating an unroadworthy vehicle (may result in a prohibition as well as a fine) Licencing and Documentation Driving without a valid driver's licence or correct entitlements (e.g., no HGV licence) Operating without a valid Operator's Licence No MOT certificate (if required) Lack of vehicle insurance or road tax Failure to produce required documentation (e.g. vehicle registration, insurance) What is Fuel Duty? Weight and Load Offences Overloading axles or gross vehicle weight Incorrect or dangerous load securing Incorrect use of trailers Emissions and Mechanical Defects Emissions tampering e.g. AdBlue cheat devices or DPF removals Using a vehicle that does not meet emissions standards Driver Conduct and Road Safety Using a mobile phone while driving Driving without wearing a seatbelt Poor vehicle condition leading to immediate prohibition Excessive vehicle noise or emissions Recommended reading: Fines can range from £50 to £300 per offence, depending on severity, and multiple fines can be issued at once (for both driver hours and vehicle defects). Major changes to car tax were also introduced earlier this year, seeing costs go up for many drivers. Zero and low-emission vehicles such as electric cars used to be exempt by HMRC, but this ended in April.
Western Telegraph
3 days ago
- Western Telegraph
Highway Code: Drivers risk speeding fine over motorway myth
Millions of us use the motorway everyday, but may be putting ourselves at risk of a speeding fine due to an incorrect understanding of motorway cameras. One motoring expert has warned drivers not to get caught out by an old tale that could leave them with a fine, points on their licence and even a driving ban. Graham Conway, from leading vehicle leasing firm Select Car Leasing, explained that a surprisingly large number of drivers still believe smart motorway cameras are NOT in operation all of the time. What can fail an MOT test? That's false – and gantry cameras can still snare speeders going above 70mph even when no variable limit is in place. He said: 'We hear this quite often, but it's something that could potentially ruin your day if you get it wrong. 'It appears that many motorists think the speed cameras on smart motorways are only in operation when the matrix signs on the gantries show a variable speed limit, say 50mph or 60mph. 'They are aware that they need to slow down when they see this, but wrongly believe that at other times they won't get clocked breaking the speed limit, as long as they don't encounter the police. 'This simply is not right. Online motoring forums are full of accounts from drivers who've been caught out in such a manner. "And the penalties for breaking the speed limit on a motorway can be severe. That's as well as being dangerous and putting lives at risk, of course.' Smart motorways have become a prominent feature of the UK's road network, offering increased capacity and improved traffic flow. Recommended Reading: But these dynamic highways also come with unique safety considerations. They utilise variable speed limits to manage traffic flow and enhance safety – depending on traffic conditions, accidents or roadworks. The smart motorway speed camera myth is one of many commonly-held misconceptions that can catch out drivers. Another is that there is no speed limit on the M6 toll road, in the West Midlands, because it is run by a private company – which is also incorrect. Mr Conway added: 'The big message here is simple: Don't speed. Road safety charity Brake! says speeding contributes to 105,000 road crashes and leads to more than 1,500 deaths every year. 'Good drivers are aware of the rules and abide by them, while also being conscious of the conditions on the day and what other road users are doing. 'It can be tempting at this time of year, when schedules are busy and you're trying to get somewhere on time, to put your foot down. 'But it's much better to get there slightly late and still in one piece than to not get there at all.'
