Locals are slamming Kingston Council's recent decision to crack down on drivers exceeding the 20mph speed limit across the borough.

The council will install speed indicators across 18 roads in the borough to encourage drivers to stick to the speed limit and improve safety.

It has been reviewing drivers' speeds across Kingston to assess compliance with the 20mph speed limit it rolled out across all residential roads it controls in the borough.

A survey of 40 roads showed that while the average speed had fallen across all of them since the rollout, only 22.5 per cent of the roads had an average speed that did not exceed 20mph. The roads were chosen as they had previously recorded high speeds.

The results showed 65 per cent of the roads recorded an average speed between 20mph and 24mph. The council will install extra speed indicators on these roads to remind drivers to watch their speed. The devices will monitor speed and provide feedback to the council.

A new report by council officers said the authority aims to improve road safety, make streets more welcoming for pedestrians and cut vehicle emissions by requiring drivers to stick to the 20mph speed limit.

Data provided by Transport for London (TfL) showed the number of collisions in Kingston has fallen by roughly 18 per cent since the introduction of the 20mph borough-wide speed limit.

There were 1,039 collisions, including four fatalities, between 2017 and 2019. This compares to 883 collisions between 2022 and 2024, which resulted in four deaths.

The council has confirmed the roads in the borough where new speed indicators will be installed, which are listed below:

• Coombe Lane West
• Kingston Road (near Kingsmeadow)
• Blakes Avenue
• Bodley Road
• Church Road, Old Malden
• Kenley Road
• Motspur Park
• Thetford Road
• Traps Lane
• Ashby Ave
• Cox Lane
• Oakcroft Road
• Balaclava Road (west of Ackerman Road)
• Beresford Avenue
• Kingsdowne Road
• Portsmouth Road
• Upper Brighton Road
• Warren Drive North

The authority will survey another 40 roads as part of the 2026 review of the borough-wide 20mph speed limit.

However, many locals have taken to social media to complain about the council's crackdown, with one saying: "Electric bikes and some scooters are now going faster than cars without restrictions. Strange world now??"

Another added: "I actually think at 20mph it's so slow and disengaging that people are more likely to look at their phones… 30 is fine as long as it's enforced… 20 is ridiculously slow. Feels like your walking"

A third resident said: "At 20mph, pedestrians , cyclists and cars take liberties with pulling or walking out in front of you. As a driver for 39 years, I can assure you I spend too much time checking my speed instead of the other road users around me. It's a bunch of a***"

In response to the complaints, a Kingston Council spokesperson told Kingston Nub News: "We are committed to reducing speeds on our roads, which leads to less accidents and more people-friendly streets.

"To help reduce excessive speeding across the borough, additional Speed Indicator Devices will be installed on 18 roads where the speed limit was reduced to 20mph but average speeds currently exceed these limits. A further 40 roads will be surveyed as part of the 2026 20mph Review.

"Figures provided by Transport for London show that the number of road collisions in the borough have fallen by approximately 18 per cent since the introduction of the borough-wide 20mph speed limit.

"This is a significant, positive outcome that demonstrates the introduction of 20mph speed limits on our residential roads has helped to make our borough safer, ensuring our streets are spaces where everyone can breathe clean air, walk and cycle more safely, and feel connected to the local community."