Speed Sign Slip-Up on A20 Sparks Fine Fury
Chaos hit the A20 Eastbound in Sidcup after a wrongly placed 50mph speed limit sign caught drivers off guard. Many faces fines for speeding, sparking outrage — even though police say the error didn’t affect official speed enforcement.
Police Say: Wrong Sign Didn’t Impact Speed Checks
The Metropolitan Police Prosecution Team confirmed the misplaced 50mph sign didn’t override the existing 40mph average speed limit set by Transport for London (TfL). The cameras kept watching, regardless of the rogue sign.
The blunder was spotted on January 24 when authorities noticed the fake sign, reportedly installed by a third party. Though it was quickly taken down, some unlucky motorists have already received Notice of Intended Prosecutions (NIPs) for allegedly breaking the speed limit.
Drivers Furious: “Lost Jobs and Housing at Risk”
A Met spokesperson reassured drivers sticking to 40mph in monitored zones wouldn’t be penalised despite bumping into the incorrect 50mph sign.
But that hasn’t pacified drivers like Becky Seymore, who formed a Facebook group urging support for those slapped with fines. Membership has soared, showing just how widespread the frustration is.
“I thought the road was still a 50mph zone,” said Simon Routledge, one of the fined motorists. “Many of us simply followed the incorrect sign.”
Concerns are mounting about the consequences, with some fearing job losses, housing issues, and licence revocations.
Local Politicians Demand Answers from TfL and Mayor
Regional reps have stepped in, calling on the Mayor of London and TfL to urgently clarify the speed limit changes. They demand better signage, clear communication, and transparency over how many fines have been issued.
Transport for London owns up to the mistake and says the wrong sign has now been replaced with the correct 40mph one. Investigations continue to find out how the erroneous sign got there in the first place.
For now, Sidcup drivers remain in limbo, waiting for authorities to sort out the mess and ease the fallout from the speed sign snafu along the A20 Eastbound.
