24 February 2023 , 10:52
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A faulty speed camera wrong flashed hundreds of cars, prompting a furious response from drivers on a busy road in Greater Manchester.
The speed camera on East Lancs Road, near Boothstown, flashed at motorists as they passed by, even while they remained at slow speeds or were standstill in traffic ahead.
Drivers were affected by the camera on Monday night and Tuesday morning. The problem with the camera has now been resolved, but some motorists were concerned they could receive a speeding ticket.
One person wrote on the Absolutely Atherton group: "Got me about 20 times last night stopped at lights... be fuming if I get a ticket." Another added: "Got me 10 times this morning on for a ban me thinks."
Transport for Greater Manchester said the camera had been fixed on Tuesday and that drivers who were incorrectly flashed will not be prosecuted, the Manchester Evening News reported.
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The minimum penalty for a speeding offence is a £100 fine and three points can be added to a licence, unless the driver is given the option to attend a speed awareness course.
The camera was fixed and authorities assured drivers they would not receive a fine (Andre Plesa)Safer Roads Greater Manchester maintains the safety cameras on behalf of local authorities.
A spokesperson for the organisation said: "Safety camera faults happen occasionally can lead to the camera flashing in an uncontrolled manner as shown in this video.
"The maintenance contractor attended the camera at around 11am on Tuesday, January 21 and the issue was resolved shortly after. All images from the cameras are manually viewed and checked before any offence is issued, and Greater Manchester Police have been made aware of this fault.”
It is not the first time drivers have become concerned that a faulty camera will result in them receiving a costly fine.
In Saltford, Bath in December last year, Avon and Somerset Police, were made aware of an issue with a camera and had to reassure people that they would not receive a penalty.
They said at the time: "Any motorists who drove past the fixed camera in Saltford within the speed limit at the time of the fault can be assured they won’t be subject to a notice of intended prosecution being issued."
In July last year, drivers on the M27 westbound were surprised to be flashed by the camera.
One driver told the Southern Daily Echo: "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."
Motorists may want to watch out, as this problem was caused by a breach of speed limits in areas where there were roadworks.
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