A Freedom of Information (FOI) request to the Met has revealed Kingston has the second-highest number of speed cameras per capita in the capital.

Data across London boroughs from the Metropolitan Police's Strategy and Insight division shows the proportion of speed cameras to population, along with the highest speed the cameras recorded between January 2021 and February 2024.

Kingston's 49 speed cameras and its population of 168,302 places the borough among the most well-covered, with 29.11 speed cameras per 100,000 people – higher than all neighbouring boroughs in south-west London.

The borough is second only to Camden in the north of the capital, which has over double the rate at a staggering 61.91 speed cameras per 100,000 people.

Richmond-upon-Thames has the second-highest rate in Kingston's region, with 20.01 cameras per 100,000, while Hammersmith and Fulham lagged behind with only 11 speed cameras for its 185,238 residents: giving the borough the lowest proportion of cameras in London.

Meanwhile, Kingston-upon-Thames only had the 16th highest speed recorded in London within the three-year timeframe at 89mph.

The highest speed overall was 144mph, measured in Havering. The borough also had the fifth-lowest number of speed cameras for its population, at 10.20 per 100,000 people.

Regionally, Merton clocked its fastest driver going 104mph, while Sutton came in at a comparatively leisurely 66mph.

According to Transport for London (TfL), cars were the main reason for 68% of all road-related deaths in 2023 killing up to 95 people – three of them in Kingston.

"Speeding remains one of the biggest risks to road users, with around half of the 2023 fatal collisions in London reporting speed as a contributory factor," says Carlease, the company who made the FOI request to the Met. 

According to The Standard, a FOI request made by The Times found that the Met has increased the number of tickets issued for 20mph offences by 700% since 2018.

This is the equivalent of one in every four cars registered in London to be penalised for speeding. 

The TfL website says the 20mph speed limit reduces the risk of killing someone by five times then if they were hit at 30mph.

Nick Simmons, CEO of road crash victim charity RoadPeace, adds: "We need collective action and commitment from everyone—drivers, cyclists, pedestrians and policymakers—to see a significant reduction in road deaths and serious injuries and to create safer streets for all."