Do all speeding cameras go live on M1 or M25 at midnight? Fact Check

A viral message on social media claims that “all” speed cameras on both the M1 and M25 motorways “go live” at midnight and anyone travelling over 72mph will be automatically sent a speeding ticket.

FALSE

Other variants of the message claim that drivers may be awarded six penalty points, and others claims the cameras are going live on the M62 and M60. Examples are below –

All cameras on M1 and M25 go live at midnight tonight, set at 72mph.
Auto ticket generating system.
Watch your speed and tell everyone else

and…

M62 & M60 cameras go live and clock you at 72mph as of tonight everyone – drive safe

Despite the claims in these messages – which has been spreading through social media since early 2019 – there is no particular date where speed cameras all become active on British motorways.

Various types of speed cameras have been operational across all British motorways for many years before this message first started to spread across social media platforms. Despite extensive searches, we were unable to find any reports or announcements whereas a significant number of cameras would suddenly become “active” at midnight on any British motorway.

In fact media reports have been warning would-be motorists that they risk a speeding tickets from speeding cameras for some time, especially in “smart motorways” (motorways that open the hard shoulder along with overhead information boards.) For example this report dating back from February 2018.

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There are a variety of different speeding cameras in operation on UK roads, including motorways, such as 24 hours cameras and “average speed” cameras. However, there has been no type of mass switch-on during any specific date, and since these rumours have been spreading online for quite some time, the reference that this alleged switch-on it occurring “at midnight” is demonstrably redundant.

But perhaps most notably, Highways England have reported on Twitter that the rumours are false, as per the tweet below.

The rumours also ignited an aged argument about what percentage over a speed limit would lead to a ticket and/or prosecution, with some suggesting it is 2mph over the limit which is why the seemingly arbitrary 72mph quoted in many of these messages appears to have derived from) while others claim it is 10% over in addition to an extra 2mph (which would mean 79mph on a 70mph limit road.)

Despite claims of a universal “rule”, there are only guidelines (10% plus 2mph) though this may vary between police forces.