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M6 speed camera clocks 5,500 car insurance holders in 5 weeks

12 Mar 2010

Posted by Judith Stevenson

More than 5,500 car insurance policyholders have been caught speeding along a section of the M6 in just five weeks.

Road safety bosses said they were shocked to discover that 5,569 car insurance policyholders were clocked going over the temporary 50mph limit on the stretch near Carlisle, which has been introduced to protect workers carrying out repairs.

A speed camera installed to police the limit, which is clearly signposted, is thought to have brought in over £160,000 of fines so far.

"In seven years working on the safety partnership in Cumbria never have I seen a camera generate so many tickets," said Kevin Tea, manager of Cumbria Safety Cameras.

"I can't offer an explanation for it," he added, saying he could not understand why car insurance policyholders had not heeded the signs.

Last month, the Highways Agency called on car insurance policyholders driving on the M6 to slow down, after more than 1,000 were caught speeding in the first weekend of works alone.