THE MYSTERY surrounding a potential faulty speed camera on a busy motorway has finally been solved.
Motorists driving along the M27 westbound on Saturday, July 23 were shocked to see a speed camera flash several drivers who were seemingly abiding by the speed limit.
A driver, who did not wish to be named, was on the motorway at around 8pm on Saturday when she saw the camera before the junction for Hedge End flash over 20 cars.
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She said: “Before the junction for Hedge End the overhead signs dropped the speed limit to 40mph.
“The speed camera in the overhead gantry flashed the two cars in front of us, which to my eye were driving around 45 to 50 mph.
“Before we drove out of its sight, the speed camera continued to flash for at least another 15 to 20 cars in the space of about 45 seconds.
“I can only imagine how many cars got a speeding ticket on that stretch of road.
“It seemed unsafe to funnel all cars into lane four and impose a 40mph limit with seemingly no justifiable reason to do so. And even more unfair for those drivers that have been fined.”
National Highways have since confirmed the reason behind the triggering of the camera.
According to the company, the cameras not only enforce speed limits but red X breaches too, and on Saturday there was a set of roadworks being deployed in the area.
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A spokesperson from National Highways said: “The signals are displayed on the road first before any activity takes place.
“Once they are set the roadworks team can then safely place the cones on the roadside.
“This can take “several minutes for them to arrive” so people think they are set.”
The spokesperson added: “What it appears has happened is that a large number of people have ignored the red X’s and driven under it.
“This then triggers the camera to catch all of those not complying with the signals, hence why it would have constantly been going off.
“The speed limit was set at 40mph, so if people were driving at 50mph this would also trigger the camera to flash.”
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