It has been circulated in recent days that speed cameras on the M1 and M25 motorways in the UK have been set at 72mph, however this is untrue.
Social media posts yesterday (5 April 2023) suggested that on midnight (00:00 on 6 April) speed cameras on the M1 and M25 motorways would be set to 72mph, with an automatic ticketing system for those exceeding the limit.
There was little certainty about the information, or its source, so Visordown contacted National Highways, who assured that “there is nothing to say speed cameras will be set at 72mph on the M1 or M25,” at 00:00 on 6 April, and therefore that the information is fake.
While it is a relief, of course, that in fact the M1 and M25 are not having their speed cameras set to 72mph, it is also true that this is not the first time such a claim has been made.
As far back as January 2019, an identical claim was made, as reported on at the time, and debunked, by Full Fact. It said that the M25 and M1 motorways would have their speed cameras set to 72mph “tonight at midnight” and that there would be an automatic ticketing system for those exceeding the limit. There was also additional information in 2019, saying that those drivers and riders doing 90mph or more would receive instant licence bans, and that there was the potential for court orders. Of course, this additional ‘information’ was also completely fake.
