Questions have been raised over the legal authority behind a temporary speed limit reduction on London’s A20, which reportedly resulted in more than 66,000 motorists receiving penalties totalling over £6 million.

Transport for London (TfL) reduced the speed limit on the A20 from 70mph to 40mph in October 2023, before subsequently restoring the original limit, as reported in Highways News in March 2025.

The circumstances surrounding the introduction of the temporary restriction have come under scrutiny following reports that a motorist was acquitted in court after evidence raised questions about whether the official who approved the change had the necessary authority to do so.

The case has prompted renewed calls for clarification over the legal process used to introduce the restriction and the validity of the penalties issued during the period.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan and TfL deny any wrongdoing and maintain that the relevant traffic orders were lawful.

Campaign group FairFuelUK has called for an independent examination of the decision-making process, including who authorised the temporary speed limit, when any concerns about its legality were identified and whether the penalties imposed on motorists were valid.

The group has also called for refunds to be issued if any investigation establishes that fines were incorrectly or unlawfully imposed.

The reported scale of the enforcement operation, involving more than 66,000 motorists and penalties exceeding £6 million, raises questions about the potential implications if the legal basis for the restriction is found to have been defective.

However, the reported acquittal of an individual motorist does not in itself establish that the wider enforcement operation or all the penalties issued were unlawful.

The central issue remains whether the temporary speed limit was properly authorised and whether the statutory procedures governing its introduction and enforcement were followed.

(Picture: Mapillary)