Conservative London Assembly Member for Bexley and Bromley, Thomas Turrell, has called on the Mayor of London to launch an independent investigation into Transport for London’s (TfL) implementation of temporary speed restrictions on the A20 Sidcup by-pass.
The busy road saw two-speed restrictions between October 2023 and October 2024 around the Sidcup by-pass. However, complaints from drivers have revealed multiple compliance failures and procedural irregularities which Assembly Member Turrell believes need addressing, and has said that “TfL cannot be allowed to mark their own homework” because of the seriousness of the breaches, which include safety violations.
Raising concern about potential breaches in the law, former Chairman of London TravelWatch, Brian Cooke, who was a Transport for London Board member until 2016 said:
"I travel from Bromley to Thanet on a frequent basis and often use the A20. I knew about the speed reduction, but the signage was hard to see and was just tiny. If I didn't follow these things, then I would have most probably missed them and got a fine. It's completely unacceptable how badly TfL messed this up. There is no way the signage looked like it complied with the rules to me. The way this was handled must be investigated."
Mr Turrell is calling on the Mayor, who is the Chair of TfL, to launch an independent investigation which will assess three main areas of concern. Thomas would like answers on:
- Did TfL comply with all relevant statutory instruments and guidelines in relation to the temporary speed limits on the A20 Sidcup bypass between October 2023 and October 2024?
- Did all signage comply with the correct rules and regulations such as the correct chapters of the Signage Manual?
- Did all speed cameras and their signage comply with all the correct rules and regulations?
Campaign groups have uncovered that TfL installed speed limit signs which are only a quarter of the size required by Department for Transport guidance for temporary signage, potentially compromising driver awareness and road safety. The 40mph signs measured just 450mm, rather than the mandatory 900mm for temporary speed restrictions.
Ben Knight, who lives in Rochester and regularly drives to East London, said:
"I was lucky that I caught a glimpse of the sign, but they weren't clear because they were far too small. The lack of clear signage caused a lot of confusion as well because the opposite side was still moving at 70 mph. The confusion was dangerous.
Everyone knows the speed limits on these types of roads and duel carriageways nationally, so TfL should have made it much clearer that a temporary speed limit was in place. It is shocking the number of people who have fines or even points on their licence all because TfL did not properly install the signs. It's absolutely shameful."
Further concerns have emerged about the legitimacy of the Traffic Order itself, with evidence suggesting irregularities in the sign-off process and failures in statutory publication requirements, which were exposed following a series of Freedom of Information requests. Included in this are allegations that:
- The traffic order (0622) was not published on the TfL website,
- The Officer named on the order does not appear on the Audit record,
- The possibility that the wrong Officer signed off on the order altogether.
Neil Cuthbert, a Bromley resident who received a fine on 10 January 2024, supports an investigation and said:
"I am challenging my ticket in court because this issue goes beyond inadequate signage - it represents a systemic failure. Tens of thousands of drivers have been affected, which highlights serious flaws in the implementation of this scheme. The signage was poorly placed and difficult to spot, the traffic order was poorly executed, and it appears that TfL has not adhered to the rules they are meant to follow. This has led to significant financial and personal consequences for drivers. Only a thorough, independent investigation can uncover the full extent of what has gone wrong and ensure accountability."
In a letter sent to the Mayor of London and the Department for Transport, Thomas sets out concerns about the speed reduction scheme that may have inadvertently led to motorists being fined as a result of not being aware of the order.
In a statement, Thomas Turrell AM said:
"The catalogue of errors in TfL's implementation of this speed restriction is deeply concerning. From undersized signs to questionable paperwork, it appears corners have been cut at every turn. The number of alleged breaches means that TfL cannot be allowed to mark their own homework. Lessons must be learnt.
Perhaps most worrying is TfL's failure to properly engage with key stakeholders. Freedom of Information requests reveal the Metropolitan Police weren't even notified of the speed reduction until three days after the Traffic Order was dated, and less than two weeks before implementation.
This isn't just about bureaucratic process - it's about road safety and fairness to motorists. When implementing speed restrictions, every detail matters. TfL's apparent decision to treat this as a permanent rather than temporary speed restriction has led to signage that may not be sufficiently visible to drivers, leading to motorists being fined and face points on their licences when they may not be aware they’ve done something wrong.
I am calling on the Mayor to launch an urgent independent investigation into TfL’s conduct and processes. We must ensure all temporary speed restrictions are implemented with proper compliance and stakeholder engagement in future and amnesty for drivers who have been fined as a result."
The revelations raise fresh and serious questions about TfL's handling of temporary traffic orders and their approach to road safety measures across London. However, TfL has previously been challenged on this, when in January 2024, the Member of Parliament for Old Bexley and Sidcup, Louie French MP organised a letter signed by 11 other Conservative MPs from across South-East London and Kent to Sir Sadiq Khan to raise concerns about the quality of the signage. Sir Sadiq responded to this letter in March 2024 stating that no enforcement started until December 2023 and that he was satisfied the Emergency Traffic Order had been issued correctly. Mr French then raised the issue at Prime Minister's Questions in March 2024, pressing then Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to intervene and cancel speeding fines.
Offering his support for an independent Investigation, Shadow Secretary of State for Transport, Gareth Bacon MP, said:
“Transport for London clearly has questions to answer about how this was implemented. This is not just a London issue, many drivers in Kent will be impacted by this. The errors in this implementation will have had a very real impact on people’s lives. These people deserve answers and motorists across London and indeed the South-East need to have faith that Transport for London will follow all the correct guidance and regulations when issuing traffic orders. These rules exist for a reason and I am deeply concerned by the alleged failure to follow them. An independent investigation is the only way that these allegations can be properly addressed, and I fully support this call.”
