London A20 speed-fine dispute: more than 66,000 drivers said to be affected as Khan pressed to explain

A temporary speed limit on a stretch of London's A20 road is facing renewed scrutiny. The Telegraph reported that Transport for London (TfL) cut the limit between Sidcup and Swanley from 70 mph to 40 mph in October 2023, after which more than 66,000 drivers were fined, raising at least £6.6 million; campaigners say the enforcement was flawed and are pressing Mayor Sadiq Khan to explain and back an independent investigation. The mayor and TfL deny any wrongdoing, saying enforcement was necessary for safety and lawful. (Photo: file image of London traffic, not the A20 scene.)

How the temporary limit arose, and one driver's acquittal in court

According to the reporting, TfL imposed the 40 mph limit by traffic order in October 2023 after cars left the road in heavy rain; the limit was lifted in October 2024 once drainage work was done. On September 12, 2026, Kingston Crown Court acquitted motorist John Abbott, ruling that the traffic order and notice were invalid. The Telegraph reported that the mayor vetoed an independent investigation. A Crown Court ruling does not bind other courts, so other convictions are not automatically overturned.

Competing claims: campaigners demand disclosure; the mayor and TfL deny wrongdoing

Motoring campaign group FairFuelUK has called for full transparency, while London Assembly Conservatives transport spokesman Thomas Turrell and Orpington MP Gareth Bacon have pressed the mayor to explain how drivers could have convictions overturned, points removed and fines repaid. A spokesperson for the mayor said it was incorrect to suggest the mayor or TfL misled anybody, and TfL remains confident enforcement was necessary given the safety risks. TfL has not said how many drivers were caught; the figure of more than 66,000 and at least £6.6 million is The Telegraph's estimate, not an officially confirmed total.

Sources: The Telegraph, November 1, 2026, via syndicated reports; TfL and Mayor's Office responses; Kingston Crown Court ruling, September 12, 2026.