A 67-year-old psychiatrist from north London is at risk of losing his driving licence after accumulating nine penalty points for speeding at speeds as low as 24mph in 20mph zones. Dr Gary Duffield, a consultant forensic psychiatrist, was caught driving at 24mph last year and attended a speed awareness course. However, three further prosecutions in Hackney and Camden—for travelling twice at 24mph and once at 25mph—have left him facing a six-month ban if he receives another speeding ticket.
Dr Duffield described the penalties as 'disproportionate' for what he called 'minor infringements'. He said he is 'no boy racer' and attributed the violations to a lack of cruise control in his Toyota Prius, which sometimes caused him to creep above the limit while focusing on the road. 'I try to stick to the limit but there is a limit to how frequently you can check your speedometer,' he said, adding that he has seen Lime bikes 'whizzing' past him while he struggles to control his speed.
The case comes as over half of London's roads now have a 20mph limit under Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan's initiative to reduce road casualties. Transport for London (TfL) states that cars hitting pedestrians at 30mph are five times more likely to kill than at 20mph. However, campaigners have labelled the zones 'unjust and unnecessary', and the limits have been criticised as part of a 'war on motorists'.
Dr Duffield, who relies on his car for work as a doctor, warned that losing his licence would cause him significant problems. He argued that there is 'no flexibility' in the punishment system. The case highlights a broader trend: last year nearly a million drivers received speeding points, a third higher than in 2022. The Welsh Labour government scrapped its blanket 20mph rule in 2024 after public opposition, though such zones remain widespread across Britain.
