Speed cameras have been questioned after a driver was fined for 'speeding' at 47mph on the M4.
Over the past few months, several drivers have been caught out, disqualified or fined for breaking the speed limit.
Christopher Lees, 64, of Kestrel Road, Charfield, South Gloucestershire, was behind the wheel of a grey Renault travelling on the M4 between junctions 19 and 20 and junctions 15 to 17 of the M5 on January 16, 2025.
He was captured on an automated speed camera driving at 47mph, despite a speed restriction of 40mph being in place at the time.
Lees case was heard at Bath Law Courts on November 4, 2025, and he was found guilty in his absence.
The 64-year-old was fined £220 and handed three penalty points. He was also ordered to pay a surcharge of £88 and prosecution costs of £110.
But the way in which speed cameras operate has been called into question by a recent discussion held by The Guardian entitled "Should speed cameras be hidden?".
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Amy from Cornwall said: "What’s the point of having speed limits if camera-warning signs and apps allow drivers to slow down in advance, then just continue speeding?
"Maybe the UK government, in its new consultations on road safety, should add the question of hiding speed cameras to their list of concerns.
"I’m a driver, but also a pedestrian and cyclist and get fed up with seeing cars zooming down local roads at way more than 20 or 30mph.
"There are flashing lights that tell drivers what speed they’re doing, but there’s no penalty for going over at those points."
Duncan Davis responded: "Evidence shows that the signs that tell you the speed you are doing are far more effective and for a greater distance afterwards at slowing people down than speed cameras.
"Having said that, average speed cameras seem to be a good direction to go, obviously better on long single roads than towns with lots of roads leaving and joining, although it could still work."
Another person highlighted the use of ANPR cameras and suggested that they were the way forward for catching speeders.
"It has always struck me that the use of average speed cameras is much more effective at keeping vehicle speeds down to the speed limit," they said.
"These use ANPR to check the time between cameras, so virtually all drivers stay at the speed limit, but then speed up after passing the last camera, presumably to make up for the time they think they have lost while sticking to the speed limit.
"As ANPR spreads more widely, it can't be beyond the technology to use their data to better effect by catching speeders too."
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