20 mph speed limits are ‘traps’ criminalising innocent people, says Mr Loophole

LAWYER Nick Freeman has criticised 20 mph speed limits as being revenue-raising “traps” set by local authorities that are “artificially low in most circumstances”.

Known as “Mr Loophole”, he told GB News: “I think one of the big problems is in London particularly and in other cities is the 20 mile an hour speed limit, because it’s artificially low in most circumstances.

“I drive down to London regularly and once you get on to Edgware Road, and there’s a slight decline, and you’re constantly breaking because the car actually does not want to stay at 20 miles an hour.

“I’m not advocating against having a 20 mile an hour limit, when there’s a good reason for it, school, opening and closing times, etc.”

In a discussion during Breakfast with Eamonn Holmes and Isabel Webster, he continued: “What is the point? There’s statistics, the research shows there’s no real improvement in terms of safety.

“So many people who have never been done for speeding before, never committed an offence, are falling foul of this because it’s literally counterintuitive.

“It’s very, very hard to stay at 20 on a fairly empty road, particularly when most cars now are automatic, you’ve not got the manual change that will break the car.

“It is very difficult and doesn’t really make a great deal of sense. I don’t think this is a situation where people are wilfully trying to flout the law. It’s people innocently falling into the trap because it’s artificially low.”

He added: “It’s a huge source of revenue for councils who are really struggling financially. It’s unfortunate because it’s criminalising people who have no real intent on committing offences.

“These are not people who are putting their foot down and driving in a deliberate, dangerous manner. That’s a completely different situation.

“There’s a tiny minority and when those appear before the court, they’re dealt with not for speeding but for dangerous driving and other associated offences.”