Thousands of speeding drivers could be off the hook due to 'sign too small' loophole

By Conor Wilson, News Reporter

It has been claimed that velocity bounds signs were excessively tiny (Image: Thomas Turrell)

Thousands of motorists could spot their speeding fines crushed aft impermanent roadworthy signs erected successful south-east London were recovered to beryllium excessively small, it has been claimed.

The A20 adjacent Sidcup had its velocity bounds reduced from 70mph to 40mph successful October 2023 aft unsafe flooding caused cars to skid disconnected the road.

The alteration led to much than 60,000 motorists being deed with speeding fines.

But it has present been claimed that many of those charges mightiness nary longer beryllium valid arsenic the velocity bounds signs erected astatine the broadside of the roadworthy did not conscionable regulations.

According to the Government’s Traffic Signs Manual, 40mph velocity bounds signs should beryllium astatine slightest 750mm wide.

Campaigners judge that signage enactment successful spot by TfL was excessively tiny for motorists to spot (Image: Thomas Turrell)

It has present been claimed that immoderate signs connected the broadside of the A20 were arsenic overmuch arsenic fractional the size of regulatory standards, meaning galore motorists were unaware of the alteration of velocity limit.

The impermanent velocity bounds was enactment successful spot aft authorities became acrophobic aft respective accidents wherever blocked drains and consequent flooding were believed to person played a important factor.

Thomas Turrell, the Conservative subordinate of the London Assembly for Bexley and Bromley, said the signs erected by Transport for London (TfL) were lone 450mm wide and truthful perchance misled motorists astir the existent velocity bounds for the play betwixt October 2023 and October 2024.

TfL has denied failing to conscionable regulatory standards, claiming that they remained “correct and compliant with the regulations” throughout.

Mr Turrell said: “This isn’t a fistful of Top Gear enthusiasts who person ignored the signage and past assertion they haven’t seen it.

“This is simply a immense magnitude of radical who person been deed by this, and tons of radical would not person adjacent realised they’d done thing wrong.”

Nick Freeman, a motoring lawyer who is often referred to arsenic “Mr Loophole” believes that the signs were “definitely excessively small.”

He added: "Obviously, if they’re tiny, the motorist can’t work them.”

A TfL spokesperson said: “Safety is our number-one priority, and we temporarily introduced a 40mph velocity bounds connected the A20 Sidcup Road successful effect to a fig of incidents caused by ongoing flooding issues, which posed a hazard to life.

“New regular velocity bounds signage, compliant with each postulation motion regulations, was installed to guarantee that everyone driving connected this agelong of roadworthy was alert of the caller limit.

“All signage installed by TfL for the 40mph velocity bounds was close and compliant with the regulations.”