Nathan was caught 'speeding' in a 30mph zone...or was it 50mph?

A MOTORIST has had his speeding fine overturned because of a road sign blunder – but fears many other drivers will face the same fate.

Nathan Alton was caught by a speed camera travelling at 40mph in a 30mph zone in Nottingham Road, Codnor.

But the limit had just been reduced to 30mph from 50mph – and signs with both speeds were still being displayed side by side.

He appealed and has had a £60 fine and three points on his licence withdrawn.

Mr Alton, of Derby Road, Denby, said: "I remember being flashed by the camera and thinking that would mean points on my licence.

"As I am a salesman for a living I need to keep my licence as clean as possible because of the amount of travelling I do.

"As I drove away I thought to myself that I was sure I had seen 50mph signs as I approached the camera so I turned round and drove the route again.

"There were 50mph signs next to 30mph zones so it is no wonder I was confused."

Mr Alton, 29, said he contested his fixed penalty and in a letter to Derbyshire Safety Camera Partnership, which manages the county's network of 117 fixed cameras, he asked how many other drivers had been caught at about the same time.

He cited the Freedom of Information Act, which gives the general public the right to obtain information held by public authorities.

The reply he received said it was unable to give him that information but that any penalty against him had been dropped.

He said: "I was astounded that they would just drop this so quickly.

"The 30mph signs and 50mph signs at Codnor stood side by side on that road for at least two weeks, so I dread to think how many other people were snapped like I was.

"I even remember following a van just after I had been caught.

"It was doing about 40mph and I thought 'slow down mate, you're going to get caught' and sure enough he was.

"I'll bet there are hundreds who were caught wrongly like this."

The Evening Telegraph asked the partnership how many other drivers had been wrongly caught by the same camera and was referred to the police.

But Derbyshire police said it was unable to provide the figures.

A police spokeswoman said: "In this particular incident we are in talks with the county council, which is responsible for road signs in the area."

Brian Lucas, county council cabinet member for environmental services – which includes highways and transport – declined to comment.