The post below was uploaded on EastSheenMatters on 15 November 2025. Nothing has changed to make 20 mph in some areas an infuriating and potentially dangerous restriction. Even when driving with the best of intentions to stick to the limit, it is easy to slip into the penalty zone. And in order to ensure that you do not slip from say 18 mph to 24 mph ,you may be distracted from paying attention to other aspects of driving your car. And then there are other drivers!

You might want to consider upplying the speed limiter on your car to 20 or 21, if one is available. New cars sold since 7 July 2024 must have it fitted, so they are a relatively recent innovation and one with which you may not be familiar. Note you will not easily be able to add three mph to get past that orange light! But for peace of mind you might find it useful.

“Police forces issued 488,599 tickets in 2024 to drivers travelling at more than 20 mph in a 20 limit. This is an increase of two thirds from the previous year, according to data gathered from all 43 British police forces.

You can be caught for doing 24 mph on a major road, such as the South Circular in London near the Kew Retail Park, a wide road with little pedestrian use. In that area 20 mph feels too slow. It has its dangers too, when less patient drivers overtake a car they feel is travelling excessively slowly. If they know where the cameras are they will get away with it. And you are likely to be overtaken by cyclists to whom the limits do not apply.

There are obviously areas in towns where this limit is important. But it is equally obvious that the objectives elsewhere are anti-car and money making.

The 2025 figures are bound to increase. Just how many drivers will it take to be criminalised for a more discriminating policy to be considered?”