Exclusive new data has revealed that speed cameras on the M6 motorway in the West Midlands have caught nearly 30,000 drivers for speeding offences so far this year.
The figures, obtained by BirminghamLive from West Midlands Police, highlight specific sections of the motorway where motorists are most frequently penalised. This surge in offences underscores a significant issue with speeding on one of the country's busiest routes.
M6 Speed Camera Hotspots Revealed
The most active location for speed cameras is on the southbound carriageway between the M54 slip road near Wolverhampton and Junction 10 for Walsall. This single stretch accounted for a staggering 9,711 speeding fines issued to drivers.
Another major hotspot for offences is the northbound section between Junctions 7 and 8 near Great Barr, where 8,941 drivers were caught breaking the speed limit.
Further significant numbers were recorded between Junctions 4 and 5 at Castle Bromwich. Police data shows 6,705 offences2,631 caught travelling in the southbound direction.
The Role of Variable Speed Limits
A key factor contributing to the high number of penalties is the use of variable speed cameras. These enforcement systems are activated when the national speed limit is temporarily reduced.
Digital gantries display lower speed limits, often to manage traffic flow during congestion or incidents. Motorists who ignore these temporary restrictions, which can drop to 60, 50, or even 40 mph, are automatically detected and fined.
Speeding on the Connected M42
The data also exposed speeding issues on the adjoining M42 motorway. On the northbound stretch between Junctions 3A and 4, cameras caught 5,872 rule-breakers.
An additional 3,484 fines were issued between Junctions 4 and 5, also heading northbound, indicating that speeding is a persistent problem across the region's core motorway network.
With tens of thousands of drivers facing penalties, these findings serve as a stark reminder for all motorists to adhere to both permanent and temporary speed limits on the Midlands' motorways.
