Sadiq Khan has denied that he was involved in a cover-up over a speed limit change on the A20 that led to thousands of motorists being fined.
Transport for London temporarily reduced the speed limit on the A20 between Sidcup in southeast London and Swanley in Kent from 70mph to 40mph in 2023. It is believed that more than 60,000 people were caught speeding in the first six weeks of the new limit. In total, £6.6 million was raised from fines. Some drivers argued that signage was insufficient.
At a recent acquittal for one driver at Kingston Crown Court, documents showed that a TfL employee signed off on the speed change without having the formal authority to implement it. The restriction was therefore technically unenforceable. Assembly members and driver advocacy groups have argued that drivers who faced fines, penalty points or lost driver's licences deserve a review of how the traffic regulation orders were handled.
Thomas Turrell, transport spokesman for the London Assembly Conservatives, said: "The calls for an independent investigation into this fiasco are now irresistible: the truth must out, and heads must roll if they are found to have knowingly tried to pervert the course of justice in this case."
A spokesman for the Mayor of London told The Telegraph: “It is incorrect to suggest that the Mayor or TfL misled anybody in relation to these fines, and TfL remain confident that enforcement of the speed limit here was necessary given the safety risks. No wrongdoing was alleged by the court, traffic regulation orders were made lawfully, and all TfL staff acted in accordance with authorisation.”
A TfL spokesperson said the court case "does not set a binding precedent on any other cases". The spokesperson added: "We will be supporting the Metropolitan Police in resisting the upcoming appeals. Safety is our number one priority and we temporarily introduced a 40mph speed limit on the A20 Sidcup Road in response to a number of serious incidents caused by ongoing flooding issues, which posed a risk to life."
Analysis
Why This Matters
- Thousands of drivers who paid fines or received penalty points may seek refunds or have convictions overturned.
- The case raises questions about the legal validity of traffic enforcement actions when internal authorisation procedures are not followed.
- It tests the accountability of TfL and the Mayor's office over a large-scale enforcement error.
Background
In 2023, Transport for London reduced the speed limit on the A20 from 70mph to 40mph for a year, citing flood-related safety incidents. More than 60,000 drivers were fined in the first six weeks, generating £6.6 million. Some drivers challenged the fines in court, and one case at Kingston Crown Court revealed that the employee who signed the speed change order lacked the formal authority to do so, rendering the restrictions unenforceable. Some had argued the signage was inadequate. Khan had previously resisted calls for an inquiry, but the court discovery has intensified pressure.
Key Perspectives
- Thomas Turrell, London Assembly Conservatives’ transport spokesman: called for an independent investigation, saying "the truth must out, and heads must roll if they are found to have knowingly tried to pervert the course of justice".
- Spokesman for Mayor Sadiq Khan: denied that the Mayor or TfL misled anyone, confirmed that TfL remains confident the speed limit enforcement was necessary, and said traffic regulation orders were made lawfully and all staff acted with authorisation.
- Transport for London spokesperson: said the court ruling does not set a binding precedent, and that TfL will support police in resisting appeals, emphasising safety as the priority.
What to Watch
- Whether TfL succeeds in resisting the upcoming appeals.
- Any decision by Khan or the London Assembly to launch an independent investigation.
- Potential legal challenges from drivers seeking to overturn their fines or compensation.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedKhan denied involvement in a cover-up over the A20 speed-limit change that led to motorists being fined.The Standard London: “Sadiq Khan has denied that he was involved in a cover-up over an “unlawful” change to a road’s speed limit which caused thousands of drivers to be fined.”
- SupportedThe Mayor’s spokesman said all TfL staff acted in accordance with authorisation.The Standard London: “all TfL staff acted in accordance with authorisation.”
- SupportedTfL temporarily reduced the A20 limit from 70mph to 40mph in 2023.The Standard London: “Officials from Transport for London (TfL) temporarily reduced a speed limit on the A20 leading from Sidcup in southeast London to Swanley in Kent from 70mph to 40mph in 2023.”
- SupportedMore than 60,000 people were believed to have been caught speeding in the first six weeks of the new limit.The Standard London: “in the first six weeks of the new limit, it’s believed over 60,000 people were caught speeding and hit with a fine.”
- SupportedThe fines raised £6.6 million in total.The Standard London: “In total, £6.6 million was raised from fines.”
- SupportedA TfL employee signed off on the speed change without formal authority to implement it.The Standard London: “documents showed that a TfL employee signed off on the speed change without having the formal authority to implement the change.”
- SupportedThe speed restriction was technically unenforceable.The Standard London: “This means the speed restriction was technically unenforceable.”
- SupportedThomas Turrell said: “The calls for an independent investigation into this fiasco are now irresistible: the truth must out, and heads must roll if they are found to have knowingly tried to pervert the course of justice in this case.”The Standard London: “Thomas Turrell, the London Assembly Conservatives’ transport spokesman, said: “The calls for an independent investigation into this fiasco are now irresistible: the truth must out, and heads must roll if they are found to have knowingly tried to pervert the course of justice in this case.””
- SupportedThe Mayor’s spokesman said: “It is incorrect to suggest that the Mayor or TfL misled anybody in relation to these fines, and TfL remain confident that enforcement of the speed limit here was necessary given the safety risks.”The Standard London: “A spokesman for the Mayor of London told The Telegraph: “It is incorrect to suggest that the Mayor or TfL misled anybody in relation to these fines, and TfL remain confident that enforcement of the speed limit here was necessary given the safety risks.”
- SupportedThe Mayor’s spokesman said: “No wrongdoing was alleged by the court, traffic regulation orders were made lawfully, and all TfL staff acted in accordance with authorisation.”The Standard London: “No wrongdoing was alleged by the court, traffic regulation orders were made lawfully, and all TfL staff acted in accordance with authorisation.”
- SupportedA TfL spokesperson said the restriction was introduced in response to serious incidents caused by ongoing flooding issues that posed a risk to life.The Standard London: “we temporarily introduced a 40mph speed limit on the A20 Sidcup Road in response to a number of serious incidents caused by ongoing flooding issues, which posed a risk to life.”
- SupportedA TfL spokesperson said: “We will be supporting the Metropolitan Police in resisting the upcoming appeals.”The Standard London: “We will be supporting the Metropolitan Police in resisting the upcoming appeals.”