Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has slammed Sadiq Khan and Transport for London after thousands of drivers were issued fines because of a fake speed limit sign.
On a stretch of the A20 near Sidcup, drivers received automatic fines and penalty points for breaking the speed limit, which many have branded “unfair” after a fake 50mph speed limit sign was installed.
Transport for London said it had temporarily reduced the speed limit from 70mph to 40mph as a result of frequent flooding in the area, although some drivers were tricked into speeding.
The Metropolitan Police said the sign should not have been there, although claimed that the fines are still “within the law”.
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Drivers were caught out by a fake sign, although there are real 50mph signs around London
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Speaking at Prime Minister’s Questions in the Commons yesterday, Louie French, the Conservative MP for Old Bexley and Sidcup, highlighted how Conservative MPs from across South East London and Kent have expressed their concerns.
He added that the group of MPs had written to Transport for London and the Labour Mayor of London Sadiq Khan to investigate the issue.
French, who has been an MP since 2021, said TfL and Khan should “do the right thing following the botched implementation” of the 40mph speed limit.
Because of the temporary speed limit and fake sign, thousands of drivers have been “unfairly” issued fines and points on their licence.
He added: “This has left many drivers, including carers, emergency service workers and teachers, at risk of losing their licences and jobs.
“Does the Prime Minister agree with me that TfL, the Met Police and Sadiq Khan must come clean about the number of fines and cancel these issued points?”
In response, Rishi Sunak said he understood the concerns of drivers and the ongoing issue, highlighting Transport for London’s role in the situation.
He said: “Whilst we're doing everything we can to back motorists across the country, it is disappointing that the Labour Mayor and indeed Labour-run Wales are hammering drivers at every opportunity, whether that's temporary speed limits or blanket 20mph zones or the Ulez expansion.
“But I will make sure that my honourable friend has a meeting with the responsible Minister to discuss his concerns.”
The Metropolitan Police had previously claimed that anyone who had driven through the section of the road marked as a maximum speed of 40mph and sped up after seeing the fake sign would not have received a ticket.
A Scotland Yard spokesperson told Yahoo News: “Our prosecutions team, which deals with speeding offences, has taken legal advice and the location of the 50mph sign would not have impacted the enforcement.”
A spokesperson for TfL added: “Safety is our number one priority and we have temporarily introduced a 40mph speed limit on the A20 Sidcup Road due to ongoing surface water flooding which has caused a number of safety concerns and serious risk to road users.
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Sunak also slammed Labour in Wales for its blanket 20mph speed limit policy
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“The reduced speed limit has been introduced in response to that risk.
“Major work is required to put in place permanent measures to tackle flooding here and we are working to do this as soon as possible. We plan to begin construction work on these measures in May.”