Sadiq Khan triples number of 20mph roads across London in major crackdown on motorists

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The expansion was a 'sadly predictable chapter in Labour's war on motorists', Shadow Transport Minister Greg Smith said

Lord Khan has tripled the number of 20mph roads he controls in London as part of Labour's crackdown on motorists.

In 2021, there were just 50 miles of 20mph zones on roads controlled by Transport for London (TfL).

This figure has now jumped to 166 miles as of March this year.

The startling rise in 20mph roads, as revealed in figures obtained by the Mail under Freedom of Information laws, is the latest in Lord Khan's "Vision Zero" project, which aims to eliminate all deaths and serious injures on London's streets.

It also means nearly half of the roads in Greater London under Lord Khan's authority are now 20mph zones.

Critics said the move was the latest in Labour's "war on motorists".

The 20mph speed limit has been rolled out to over half of all roads in London, with two-thirds of the capital's boroughs also having the lower speed as a baseline.

Shadow Transport Minister Greg Smith told the Mail: "Having already made driving in the centre of London utterly miserable thanks to endless cycle lanes, 20mph zones and uncapped roadworks, the greater expansion of 20mph zones in London is the next, sadly predictable chapter in Labour's war on motorists.

Motorists have complained the lower speed limit has been introduced on roads where they are not needed, leading to confusion from otherwise law-abiding drivers.

Notable names caught out by the 20mph speed limit include Sir Idris Elba, who was driving his moped at 28mph on Chelsea Embankment, and Eddie Redmayne, who submitted court paperwork too late and was forced to pay a court bill worth more than £1500.

Sir James Cleverley, after announcing his campaign to become the Tory mayoral candidate, said he would launch a review of the much-maligned Ulez scheme.

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In August, he said he would end Labour's "vindictive assault on drivers", saying it had priced out those in outer London, which is less served by the existing transport network.

A TfL spokesman said: "The evidence is clear that 20mph speed limits save lives, with TfL’s latest long-term research showing a 34 per cent reduction in the number of people killed or seriously injured on borough roads following the introduction of 20mph schemes."

Wales has implemented 20mph speed limits as standard, starting in 2025.

Despite the lower speed limit, new data emerged on Monday showing more deaths on Welsh roads had occurred since the change - 91 in 2025, up 9 per cent from 2024.

Darren Millar, the leader of the Scottish Conservatives, told GB News on Monday the vast majority of Welsh locals did not agree with the policy.

"If you ask the public what their view is, it would be very clear cut," he said.

"They don't want default 20 mile an hour speed limits. That much is absolutely true."

The Welsh Government said deaths on 20mph roads had remained level in 2024, rather than increase.

"There were 19 fatalities on 20mph roads in Wales in 2025, and the same number in 2024. So numbers of fatalities on 20mph roads in Wales has stayed the same not increased," a spokesman for the Welsh Government told The Telegraph.