A20 speeding fines: Sadiq Khan denies cover-up over £6.6m fines

Sadiq Khan has denied a cover-up over thousands of speeding fines handed out on the A20 in south-east London, after a court ruled that the temporary 40mph limit behind them was not properly authorised. Drivers caught there are now asking for their money back.

What happened on the A20?

In October 2023 TfL lowered the speed limit on the A20 between Crittall’s Corner in Sidcup and Swanley services to 40mph. It was meant to be temporary, while safety and drainage work was carried out. Drivers complained the signs were too small, and Kent Online reported that at least one 50mph sign was still up in January 2024.

According to reports, more than 60,000 drivers were caught in the first six weeks, with £100 fines raising around £6.6m. The limit went back to 50mph in August 2024.

Read more: Tube ticket machine scam: police warn over card skimmers at stations

Why was the 40mph limit ruled unlawful?

On 12 September, driver John Abbott won his appeal at Kingston Crown Court. The court heard that the TfL officer who signed the traffic order did not have the authority to do so, and found there was no case to answer.

Another driver, Thomas Wood, received nine fines, 15 penalty points and a six-month ban. He lost his job, and his car insurance rose from about £900 to more than £3,000.

What have Sadiq Khan and TfL said?

A spokesperson for the Mayor said: “It is incorrect to suggest that the Mayor or TfL misled anybody.” They added that “no wrongdoing was alleged by the court” and that the orders “were made lawfully”.

TfL said the ruling “does not set a binding precedent on any other cases”, adding: “We will be supporting the Metropolitan Police in resisting the upcoming appeals.”

Thomas Turrell, the Conservative transport spokesman on the London Assembly, said calls for an independent investigation are “now irresistible”. MPs Laura Trott, Gareth Bacon and Louie French have written to the Mayor asking for convictions to be quashed, points removed and fines refunded.

Can I get my A20 speeding fine refunded?

Not automatically. TfL and the Met say they will fight further appeals, and the Crown Court ruling does not apply to other cases. If you were fined on this stretch between late 2023 and August 2024, you may want to get legal advice about whether to appeal.

Sources: Evening Standard via Yahoo, Kent Online, The Telegraph. Photo: Andrew Abbott / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0.