Some smart motorway cameras are “not facing the road” despite playing a critical role in keeping roads safe for motorists.
Smart motorway cameras can identify if vehicles are exceeding variable or national speed limits, as well as if vehicles are being driven in closed lanes, although these cameras were unaffected by the issue.
Motorists can be issued with hefty fines and penalty points on their licence if they are caught flouting the law.
Despite this, it has been claimed that some smart motorway cameras are “not facing the road” which could potentially leave drivers without a layer of protection.
The Government announced that all new smart motorways would be scrapped earlier this year
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Some cameras are focused on the ground, pointing at the sky, looking at fields or positioned to look at housing estates, The Telegraph reported.
Camera footage from the M1, M6 and M25 reportedly found that some cameras did not return to their “homing position”.
Other cameras were covered in condensation and water, causing the view of the road to be obscured.
The CCTV cameras which were affected are used to view incidents and did not have an effect on speed cameras.
A spokesperson for National Highways stated: “We are aware of problems experienced by operators in relation to camera resting positions, and we are already working with camera suppliers to address this issue.”
The cameras are a vital piece of equipment for monitoring the road and protecting drivers from accidents.
Some drivers may be faced with the “Red X” signal which helps to manage incidents on the motorway and instructs drivers not to use the lane.
Now that traffic is managed by technology, the Red X is becoming a more common sight on the overhead gantry.
Ignoring the Red X can see drivers issued a fine of £60 and receive three penalty points on their licence for potentially causing a serious accident.
On April 15, the Government announced that all new smart motorways would be scrapped as a result of financial pressures and a “lack of confidence” from drivers.
Any smart motorways which were to be constructed between 2025 and 2023 as well as those which were previously paused will not go ahead.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said all drivers “deserve to have confidence” in the roads they travel on, while Transport Secretary Mark Harper said the Government was listening to driver concerns.
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Smart motorways were first introduced in 2006
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According to the RAC, seven in 10 motorists said they believed that removing the hard shoulder on motorways would compromise safety.