Andy Burnham explained that he did not realise the speed limit had changed (Picture: Getty)
Greater Manchester’s mayor Andy Burnham has been fined almost £2,000 after he was caught speeding on the motorway.
The 53-year-old was going 78mph on a section of the M62 where the limit had been reduced to 40mph while travelling towards Liverpool last July.
In a statement, Mr Burnham explained that he did not realise the smart motorway’s speed limit had changed but accepted he was ‘going too fast’.
He admitted a single speeding offence to Manchester and Salford Magistrates’ Court on March 14.
He told the Manchester Evening News: ‘On the night in question, I was travelling home on the M62 westbound in normal motorway conditions intending to come off at junction 10 for the M6.
‘When I got close to the junction, it became clear that it had recently been closed and I had to re-route quickly back onto the main motorway.
‘I was not aware of any variable speed limit in place on the smart motorway system at the time and only found out about it when the letter arrived in the post.
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‘If I had been aware, I would not have been travelling at that speed. That said, I acknowledge that, at 78mph, I was going too fast and accept the court’s decision.’
Mr Burnham was fined £1,353 and ordered him to pay a victim surcharge of £541 and £90 in court costs.
The total bill was £1,984. The mayor’s licence was also endorsed with six penalty points.
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The Greater Manchester mayor said he ‘accepted he was going too fast’.