Thousands of people are thought to have been fined for speeding along a road unaware the limit had dropped from 70mph to 40mph.

Kent motorist Serena Brooks is one who has received two notices of intended prosecution (NIPs) from driving along the A20 between Crittals Corner, in Sidcup, and the Swanley Interchange.

Transport for London (TfL) has temporarily changed the speed limit on part of the eastbound carriageway, heading towards Kent up to the BP garage, from 50mph to 40mph.

However, drivers claim that they were not made aware of the changes and it was not clear, with at least one 50mph sign still being up.

It is thought the incorrect sign was placed by a third party and has since been removed and replaced with the correct 40mph notice.

Speaking to KentOnline Serena, of Kemsing, near Sevenoaks, said: “When I got my ticket, I thought ‘What has happened’.

“I was so stressed about how many other letters were going to come through as I use that road every, single day.”

The 43-year-old received two NIPs, one for driving at 50mph and another at 64mph, but said at the time was unaware the speed limit had changed from 70mph and 50mph.

“The new signs are like dinner plates, they are so small," she added. “It is a really busy road and usually, you would have big signs, there is nothing like that.

“They are all on the inside lane so if you were overtaking a lorry you would not see them. They are all hidden."

The temporary changes have been introduced along the A20 Sidcup Road due to safety concerns over ongoing surface water flooding.

The speed reduction is an emergency order meaning no formal consultation was required.

A TfL spokesperson added: “Major work is required to put in place permanent measures to tackle flooding here and we are working to do this as soon as possible. We plan to begin construction work on these measures in May.”

Flooding has caused a number of aquaplaning incidents with seven crashes being recorded between 2019 and 2022 due to a loss of control.

It has also caused multiple vehicles to crash into the BP forecourt and petrol pumps along the Swanley Bypass causing hundreds of thousands of pounds of damage.

The speed limit change will be in place until permanent drainage works can be completed.

Although, Serena understands the safety reasons behind the changes, thinks the lack of communication and clarity over the changes has caused a lot of issues for drivers.

She added: “There must be so many people who are stressed, who have not been able to sleep or eat over the NIPs.

“People are going to lose their jobs and homes. Most people have a clean licence and now they are at risk of losing it over this.

“It does not make sense. It is nonsensical.”

A Facebook page has been set up for affected drivers and amassed more than 11,000 members who have been sent NIPs.

Kent MPs Laura Trott, Gareth Johnson, Kelly Tolhurst, Tracey Crouch, Damian Collins, Damian Green, and Adam Holloway have also written to the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and the commissioner of TfL.

Alongside their London colleagues, they have raised their "serious concerns" about the new measures.

The letter said: “In recent weeks we have been contacted by many drivers across London and the South East who have been issued speeding fines but were unaware of the reduction in the speed limit from 70mph and 50mph to 40mph on this stretch of the A20.

“The majority of drivers have stated that they have been issued fines for travelling at speeds less than 50mph, with many concerned that they could now lose their freedom to drive and in some cases their jobs due to multiple fines and points being issued in quick succession.

“Your communications of this ‘temporary’ change has been poor, with a combination of email inquiries and freedom of information requests being the main way in which the public has been informed of this change.

“As far as we are aware, you have not carried out any public consultation or confirmed when the ‘temporary’ speed limit will end, and you have only slowly improved signage due to a flurry of complaints.

“TfL were clear last year that fines would not be issued for these new ‘temporary’ speed limits until adequate signage and warnings had been put in place for drivers.

“However, as highlighted to you again by a local journalist this week, there is still at least one sign stating 50mph and many Satellite Navigation systems are still showing 50mph and 70mph for this section of road.

“This creates many concerns from both a road safety and fairness perspective.”

They have requested that the fines, which were issued by the Met Police, and license points be cancelled for drivers travelling 50mph and under to clear up the “mess”.

The new restriction extends from the existing 40mph restriction adjacent to Woodchurch Close to the National Highways boundary at Swanley.