Hundreds of drivers have been fined after a bogus 50mph sign was installed in a 40mph zone and police have confirmed the fines will still stand.
The Metropolitan Police says the penalties are still “within the law” despite troublemakers putting the signs up to fool drivers on the A20 in Sidcup in south London.
And the speed limit was only reduced last year by Transport for London (TfL) “in response to a number of incidents caused by ongoing flooding issues”.
An investigation has now been launched into the incident as an attempt to “pervert the course of justice” but the Met said other official 40mph signs in the area meant they would not overturn fines suffered by drivers as a result of reading the wrong sign.
In response to the fines, a legal expert has said he had never “seen anything quite like this, on this magnitude”.
Dominic Smith, director at Patterson Law, which specialises in motoring law, told Sky News: “We’ve been contacted in the last week by about 400 or 500 individuals, of which about 100 to 150 are at risk of losing their licences because of this.
“Usually when a new speed camera goes up, we can tell here because we get maybe about two or three enquiries a day for a couple of days – 40 to 50 a day we’re getting at the moment. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
TfL said the signs had endangered road users and caused added confusion over the road’s correct speed limit.
A spokesman said: “For a short period, an incorrect 50mph sign was illegally placed at one location on the road by somebody who had not been authorised by TfL to place it here, putting people travelling at risk.
“This was immediately replaced with the correct 40mph signage. All other signage is correct and compliant with the regulations.
“Safety is our number one priority and we temporarily introduced a 40mph speed limit on the A20 Sidcup Road in response to a number of incidents caused by ongoing flooding issues, which could have posed a risk to life.
“It is important that people follow the new speed limit to ensure that everyone can travel safely along this road and safety camera enforcement is a vital part of this.
“We want to ensure that all drivers are treated fairly and new, regular speed limit signage, compliant with all traffic sign regulations, was installed to ensure that everyone driving here is aware of the new limit.”
