M4 speed cameras: Drivers fined for ‘speeding’ at 72mph

The main reason is the increasing use of temporary and variable speed limits, which are enforced automatically by speed cameras.

 On busy stretches of the M4 — particularly between junctions 19 and 20 — speed limits often drop to 50mph or 60mph because of congestion, roadworks or safety concerns.

READ MORE: Police catch driver at 32mph in speeding operation

Several motorists have been taken to court after being recorded at speeds such as 67mph or 72mph, which many drivers still assume is acceptable on a motorway. In law, even a few miles per hour over a temporary limit can result in fines and penalty points.

A Swindon motorist was fined after being caught by an automated speed camera driving at 67mph on the M4, where a temporary 50mph limit was in place. 

Joseph Amenebede, 38, of Dydale Road, Taw Hill, was recorded travelling eastbound near junction 19 in September 2025, when he was caught breaking the speed limit.

 Amenebede avoided a driving disqualification and he was fined £230.

 He was also handed three penalty points and he was ordered to pay a surcharge of £92.

 In a separate case, a Wiltshire motorist was disqualified from driving for six months after being caught travelling at 67mph during a temporary 50mph restriction on a stretch of the M4 between junctions 18 and 19.

 Fernando Rodrigues, 56, of Gloucester Road, Trowbridge, pleaded guilty to exceeding a variable speed limit at Bath Law Courts on January 13.

 Magistrates also imposed a £320 fine alongside the driving ban.

 Confusion has been made worse by concerns over faulty speed camera systems. In early 2026, it emerged that some National Highways cameras on the M4 may have been enforcing limits before signs had fully updated, leading to thousands of potentially incorrect fines dating back several years.

The Department for Transport ordered an independent review, with some drivers now in line for refunds or points being removed.

 There has also been wider public debate about whether drivers spot the signage clearly enough — especially at night or in heavy traffic — and whether enforcement feels disproportionate when motorists are travelling close to motorway speeds rather than racing.

Authorities maintain that variable speed cameras are essential for traffic flow and safety, but the volume of prosecutions suggests many drivers still underestimate how closely these limits are monitored.