If you have been involved in a motorway accident, CCTV footage may help you understand what happened and support an insurance or legal claim. However, getting footage is not always straightforward. Not every motorway camera records or stores video, and available footage may only be kept for a short period.
This guide explains how to request motorway CCTV footage after an accident, what information you may need and what alternatives are available if no recording can be provided.
Can You Get Motorway CCTV Footage After an Accident?
Yes, you may be able to request motorway CCTV footage after an accident, but access depends on several factors.
Motorway cameras, including those covering major UK road networks, are mainly used to monitor traffic conditions, congestion and incidents. They are not necessarily designed to record every vehicle or capture clear details of an accident.
Whether footage is available can depend on:
The location of the accident.
The camera's position and viewing angle.
Whether the camera records or only provides a live feed.
How long the footage has been retained.
Whether the relevant authority can identify and retrieve the recording.
A camera showing live traffic does not automatically mean that a historical recording is available.
How to Request Motorway CCTV Footage
If you want to request footage after an accident, act as quickly as possible. Some motorway CCTV footage is only retained for a limited period.
1. Identify the Road and Accident Location
Start by confirming the motorway, direction of travel and approximate location of the incident.
For example, if the accident happened on the M6, identify the nearest junction, exit or landmark. You can also check the relevant M6 traffic cameras to understand the camera coverage around your route.
2. Contact the Relevant Highway Authority
For roads managed by National Highways in England, follow its official process for requesting traffic camera footage.
Different authorities manage roads in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Make sure you contact the organisation responsible for the road where the accident happened.
3. Provide the Incident Details
Give as much information as possible to help the authority locate any available footage.
You may need to provide:
Date of the accident.
Approximate time of the incident.
Motorway name and direction of travel.
Nearest junction or location.
Vehicle registration, if relevant.
Police or incident reference number, if available.
Your contact details and identification documents, where requested.
4. Submit Your Request Quickly
Do not delay your request. Footage retention periods can be short, and recordings may be overwritten or deleted.
National Highways advises making requests within five days of an incident. Check the current requirements for the relevant authority before submitting your request.
How Long Is Motorway CCTV Footage Kept?
There is no single retention period that applies to every motorway camera in the UK.
For National Highways cameras, its guidance states that footage is normally retained for seven days. Requests should be made within five days of the incident.
Some footage connected with a specific incident may be retained for longer if it has been identified and saved. However, this is not guaranteed.
Important: Do not assume that footage will remain available for 31 days. If you need a recording, submit your request as soon as possible.
Can You Get Motorway CCTV Footage in Scotland and Wales?
The process can differ depending on where the accident happened.
Scotland
Traffic Scotland provides information about traffic conditions and live camera images through its Traffic Scotland cameras service. Its camera feeds are not routinely recorded or stored for later viewing. Therefore, a live camera image does not mean that footage of a previous accident will be available.
Wales
For an accident on a motorway or trunk road in Wales, contact the relevant Welsh road authority to establish whether camera footage is available and how to request it.
Always check the rules of the authority responsible for the specific road.
What If Motorway CCTV Footage Is Not Available?
You may not receive footage even if cameras were operating near the accident location. Cameras may not cover the exact section of road, may not record continuously or may not retain recordings.
If CCTV footage is unavailable, consider other sources of evidence:
Dashcam footage: Check your own recording and ask other drivers or witnesses if they have relevant footage.
Witness statements: Collect names and contact details of people who saw the incident.
Photographs: Keep pictures of vehicle damage, road conditions and the accident location.
Police records: Keep any incident reference number and relevant documents.
Insurance records: Share available evidence with your insurer and follow its guidance.
These alternatives may help establish what happened when motorway CCTV cannot be obtained.
Can Motorway CCTV Footage Be Used as Evidence?
Available CCTV footage may help explain the circumstances of an accident. However, whether it can be used in an insurance claim or legal case depends on the recording, its relevance and the requirements of the organisation or court handling the matter.
A recording may show traffic movement or the general incident location without capturing the full sequence of events.
Keep any footage supplied to you in its original form and ask your solicitor or insurer how it should be handled.
Can You Request CCTV Footage Under Data Protection Law?
In some circumstances, you may be able to request CCTV footage containing your personal data through a Subject Access Request (SAR). You can also find useful information about traffic camera footage and how camera systems work.
However, this does not guarantee access to every recording. Other people may appear in the footage, and privacy rules or other exemptions may restrict what can be released.
A Subject Access Request should not be treated as a reason to delay an urgent traffic camera request. Follow the relevant highway authority's incident footage procedure as soon as possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I request motorway CCTV footage after an accident?
You may be able to request available footage from the authority responsible for the road. Availability depends on whether the camera recorded and retained the relevant incident.
How quickly should I request motorway CCTV footage?
Request it as soon as possible. National Highways advises making requests within five days of an incident.
Do all motorway cameras record video?
No. Some cameras provide live traffic monitoring, and not all systems store recordings for later access.
Can I get CCTV footage for an insurance claim?
Potentially, if relevant footage is available and the responsible authority can release it. Your insurer can advise you on how to use any footage obtained.
Can I watch old motorway CCTV footage online?
Generally, public traffic camera pages show live or periodically refreshed images rather than an archive of past recordings. Historical footage must be requested from the relevant authority, if it exists.