Khan faces scrutiny over disputed A20 speed limit and 66,000 fines
Sadiq Khan has been accused of blocking scrutiny of a temporary speed limit on the A20, after claims that the order authorising it was unlawful. The change led to more than 66,000 drivers being fined, and a Crown Court ruling has raised the possibility that some penalties and convictions could be overturned.
The limit between Sidcup and Swanley fell from 70mph to 40mph in October 2023 after cars left the road in wet conditions, and was restored after drainage work. Drivers received £100 fines and three licence points; the fines are estimated to have raised more than £6 million for TfL. TfL and the Mayor’s office deny misleading anyone or acting improperly, and say the restriction was needed for safety.
In short
- More than 66,000 drivers were fined after the A20 limit fell to 40mph.
- A court ruling has raised questions about the legality of the order.
- TfL and the Mayor’s office deny wrongdoing and say the restriction was needed.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
A temporary 40mph limit after cars left the road in wet conditions can be defended as a precaution to reduce the risk of further crashes while the drainage problem was addressed. If the restriction was properly authorised and clearly enforced, fines could be seen as a proportionate way to encourage compliance and protect road users; TfL and the Mayor’s office say the measure was needed for safety and deny impropriety.
The case against
Drivers can reasonably argue that a restriction carrying substantial penalties must have a sound legal basis, and that a Crown Court ruling calling the authorising order into question warrants full scrutiny. With more than 66,000 fines and possible convictions at stake, questions about the decision-making and disclosure deserve clear answers, regardless of the safety rationale or the money raised.
Explained simply
The A20 links south-east London with Kent and carries traffic between local communities and the wider road network. Transport for London (TfL), which manages the road, can set temporary speed limits when it considers them necessary for safety.
Sadiq Khan is London’s elected mayor and chairs TfL, which is responsible for the road and its enforcement. Drivers accused of speeding can receive a fixed penalty and points on their licence; more serious cases may be dealt with in court.
The dispute centres on whether the legal order used to impose a temporary limit was valid, and what that could mean for drivers penalised under it. It also raises questions about how TfL and the Mayor’s office oversee road-safety decisions and explain them to the public.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Sadiq Khan is accused of a cover up over ‘unlawfully introduced speed limits which has seen more than 66,000 people wrongfully fined’”.