London Mayor Sadiq Khan is facing significant criticism and demands for an inquiry following a scandal involving approximately 100,000 speeding tickets issued on the A20 near Sidcup. Drivers were caught after the speed limit was reduced from 70mph to 40mph, a move later ruled unlawful by a Crown Court judge.
Drivers were allegedly caught multiple times, even with clean driving records, after cameras installed in late 2023 captured them at speeds between 47 and 58 mph. Many feared losing their jobs or mobility due to the fines and penalty points. The situation has been described as "Kafka-esque" by affected individuals who have spent years and significant sums fighting their convictions.
The scandal erupted when John Abbott, 78, successfully contested his conviction at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court. Judge Sarah Bergstrom ruled that the temporary speed restriction was unlawful from its inception, noting that Transport for London (TfL) had not properly authorized the reduction and that its legal department was aware of the issue. Despite this ruling, Mayor Khan and TfL have refused to overturn convictions, refund fines, or clear penalty points for the estimated 100,000 drivers affected.
Critics, including Conservative MP Gareth Bacon, have accused Khan of waging a "war on drivers," pointing to the imposition of 20mph speed limits and the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) charges. The A20 speed limit reduction was implemented following reports of dangerous flooding on the stretch of road, which had caused vehicles to aquaplane. However, it has emerged that Bromley Council had been calling for TfL to address drainage issues on the A20 for a decade, with pleas from a local garage also being ignored.
John Dunlop, a businessman and co-founder of the A20 Justice Alliance, highlighted that TfL's contractor had identified the drainage problem as "historic" and that TfL only acted to reduce the speed limit in 2023, using an "emergency notice" procedure that bypassed public consultation. Dunlop also noted that the temporary speed signs used by TfL were significantly smaller than stipulated by Department of Transport guidelines for temporary restrictions and were often placed too far into the verge, making them difficult to see at speed.
Jamie Foster, a sofa salesman, received four speeding tickets in a single week around Christmas 2023. He stated that the penalty points threatened his ability to work and that prospective employers had rejected him due to his driving record. His mother, Shirley, assisted him in fighting the tickets, which he said impacted his job prospects.
Despite a cross-party motion calling for an independent inquiry into the A20 affair passing the London Assembly with a significant majority, Mayor Khan has vetoed such calls. TfL maintains that enforcement was necessary due to safety risks and that the Crown Court appeal does not set a precedent. They also stated that drains on TfL roads were cleaned annually, with enhancements to six-monthly cleaning in the area in 2023, coinciding with the speed reduction.
Drivers like Dunlop and Coleen Blackburn, who received tickets despite driving at moderate speeds, are continuing their appeals, seeking to have their points removed and an investigation launched into the matter.