Khan accused of cover-up over unlawful A20 speed limit fines

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 1 Nov, 21:44 · Archive

More than 66,000 motorists were fined under a temporary speed limit on the A20 that a court has found was imposed unlawfully.

In October 2023, Transport for London reduced the speed limit on the A20 between Sidcup and Swanley from 70mph to 40mph following accidents in wet conditions. Over the following year, before the limit was restored to 70mph after drainage work was completed, more than 66,000 drivers were caught speeding and received £100 fines and three penalty points. Some drivers lost their licences and jobs as a result.

Documents now show the speed limit change was made unlawfully. When drivers challenged their fines in court, TfL managers and Metropolitan Police staff testified under oath that the change was lawful. However, a court judgment in October found that the official who signed the traffic order did not have the authority to do so, raising the prospect of fines being refunded and convictions overturned.

Mayor Khan is accused of vetoing an independent investigation into the matter. The Telegraph reported that Khan blocked the inquiry, which would have established whether the fines were invalid. Documents show TfL staff knew about the legal issue up to two years ago.

How it is being reported

• Sadiq Khan is accused of a cover up over 'unlawfully introduced speed limits which has seen more than 66,000 people wrongfully fined'A speed camera installed on the A20 after a temporary speed limit change is estimated to have raised more than £6 million for TfL in fines.Daily Mail · 1 Nov, 21:34
• Sadiq Khan slammed over refusal to investigate 'mistake' as 66,000 motorists fined under unlawful speed limitLord Sadiq Khan has been accused of a "cover-up" after fining more than 60,000 motorists as part of an "unlawful" speed limit change. In an exclusive probe by The Telegraph, the Mayor of London was found to have vetoed an independent investigation into the temporary speed limit change, which accumulated over £6.5million for Transport for London (TfL). In October 2023, TfL officials used a traffic order to change the speed limit between Sidcup and Swanley from 70mph to 40mph. The change took place on the A20 road after cars skidded off the road during a period of heavy rain. TRENDING Stories…GB News · 1 Nov, 16:18

In this story: Sadiq Khan · Transport for London · A20 · Sidcup · Swanley · Gary Oliver · Metropolitan Police

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log