How fast will get a speeding ticket in 20mph limit in London and beyond?

Drivers in England are facing a huge surge in 20mph zones across the country as Labour’s Transport Secretary Louise Haigh gave the green light for councils the go ahead to expand the slow-zones across the country.

With much of London already covered by 20mph speed limits – with the likes of Westminster, and Kensington and Chelsea, and Merton having around 100% of borough-managed roads at 20mph – drivers are also concerned about news that the Metropolitan Police has cut speed camera tolerances.

Here motoring journalist and expert Pete Barden looks at how the changes around 20mph zones could impact thousands of drivers using roads  across the capital and other UK towns.

Finding a contact address for a 'real' person at Amazon can be stressful for some  (Credit: Pxhere)

What speed will I get a speeding ticket in a 20mph zone in London?

Police forces operate a ‘speed tolerance’ system for speed cameras, these set when a driver will receive a speeding fine for travelling at a certain speed above the prescribed limit.

Previously in London, the tolerance was set at the speed limit plus 10% plus 3mph – which would have meant that drivers would have escaped a penalty when driving up to 25mph in a 20mph zone in London.

Are more people getting speeding tickets in London’s 20mph zones?

By cutting the speed tolerance by 1mph, as explained above, The Sun has reported a 259% increase in speeding offences across London. While the figures are not specifically for 20mph violations, the large number of such zones in London is likely to mean there has been a big jump in fines for drivers exceeding the 20mph limit.

The number of drivers caught speeding in the first half of 2022 has been listed as 347,000, which is almost 2.5 times more than the second half of 2021.

When were the rules changed for speed limits in London?

The change in speed tolerance rules was not officially announced by the Met Police, so many drivers would have been unaware of having to change the way they were driving on roads in London. However, a Freedom of Information Request submitted to the Met Police states that “The MPS changed the enforcement threshold from 10% +3 to 10% +2 mph with effect from 14 May 2019.

"The threshold is now consistent with the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) guidelines.”

Can I appeal because of the change in tolerance?

While there may be other reasons why you can challenge a speeding fine, the fact that the Met Police changed the tolerance is not one of them. Speed limits are set for reasons of safety and all drivers should adhere to them at all times to protect themselves, other road users, and pedestrians.

Can I check if I have got a speeding ticket?

No. Despite some online hoaxes claiming to help drivers check any outstanding speeding tickets, there is no way the drivers in the UK can check this information. You can find out more information on if you will get a speeding ticket here.

Can I get on a speed awareness course if caught speeding in a 20mph zone in London?

There is no reason why you can’t get on a speed awareness course if caught exceeding the limit in a 20mph zone in the capital, but this will, of course, depend on how fast you were travelling and your previous driving record regarding speeding fines. You can find out more about your chances of being offered a speed awareness course here.

New 20mph zones launched in London

New 20mph zones for London

London boroughs have implemented 20mph zones across the city in what they say is a bid improve road safety and reduce accidents. These zones are generally implemented in residential areas, near schools, and in busy town centres. Below are some areas and boroughs where 20mph zones have been introduced or expanded:

1. City of London - The entire Square Mile is a 20mph zone.
2. Camden - Large parts of the borough, including areas around King’s Cross, Kentish Town, and Camden Town.
3. Islington - The entire borough is a 20mph zone.
4. Southwark - Borough-wide 20mph zone, covering areas like Peckham, Dulwich, and Borough.
5. Lambeth - The entire borough has 20mph zones, including Brixton, Clapham, and Vauxhall.
6. Hackney - Borough-wide 20mph speed limit covering areas like Dalston, Hackney Central, and Stoke Newington.
7. Tower Hamlets - 20mph zones across the borough, including Whitechapel, Bow, and Mile End.
8. Lewisham - Majority of roads in the borough are 20mph, including areas like Catford, Deptford, and New Cross.
9. Hammersmith & Fulham - Most of the borough, including Hammersmith, Fulham, and Shepherd's Bush.
10. Wandsworth - Most residential streets and areas near schools have 20mph limits.
11. Kensington & Chelsea - Several residential areas and roads near schools have 20mph limits.
12. Westminster - Zones in residential areas and around schools, including parts of Marylebone and Pimlico.
13. Haringey - Extensive 20mph zones covering areas like Tottenham, Wood Green, and Crouch End.
14. Ealing - Large parts of the borough, including areas like Acton, Ealing, and Southall.
15. Richmond upon Thames - 20mph limits in town centres like Richmond, Twickenham, and Teddington.
16. Greenwich - Several 20mph zones in areas like Greenwich, Woolwich, and Eltham.
17. Bromley - 20mph zones near schools and in certain residential areas.
18. Barking & Dagenham - 20mph zones in residential areas and near schools.
19. Redbridge - Certain areas, including parts of Ilford and Wanstead, have 20mph limits.
20. Croydon - Several 20mph zones, particularly in residential areas and around schools.

These zones are continually being expanded and enforced, with many local councils in London making 20mph the default speed limit on residential streets.

Information for information only and all speed restrictions should be fully adhered to.