Lynda La Plante
Lynda La Plante, the acclaimed novelist and television writer, is facing a potential driving ban after being accused of exceeding the speed limit on three occasions within a five-month period in south-west London, Daily Mail reported.The 83-year-old, widely recognised for creating Prime Suspect, is scheduled to appear before Lavender Hill Magistrates’ Court on August 3 in connection with the alleged offences.Court records state that La Plante’s vehicle was detected travelling at 24mph, 26mph and 27mph in a 20mph zone along the A308 Kingston Hill, close to her home in Kingston upon Thames, between November 2025 and April 2026.The first alleged offence took place at 9.24am on November 2, when her car was recorded at 24mph. A second incident occurred at 9.35am on March 5, when she was allegedly travelling at 26mph, followed by a third at 10.03am on April 11, at 27mph.In her written responses to the court, La Plante said the signage on Kingston Hill was “very confusing” when indicating the change from a 30mph limit to 20mph. She argued that the speed camera was positioned only a short distance after the new limit began, leaving drivers with little time to adjust their speed. She also pointed out that there was no clear 20mph marking painted on the road, which she said added to the difficulty for motorists trying to comply with the reduced limit. In relation to one of the charges, she indicated both guilty and not guilty pleas while requesting a court hearing.La Plante also raised concerns about the process for obtaining legal advice, noting difficulties contacting advisers and highlighting that a government web link provided for assistance was no longer working.For the third allegation, she admitted to exceeding the speed limit but disputed the circumstances, arguing that the placement of the signs on a downhill stretch made it difficult to slow down in time.If found guilty on all counts, La Plante could accumulate at least 12 penalty points on her licence, which would normally result in a six-month disqualification from driving.The cases have been brought by the Metropolitan Police using the Single Justice Procedure. Responsibility for the placement and maintenance of speed limit signage lies with the local council.The situation arises amid ongoing debate over the expansion of 20mph zones across London. Mayor Sadiq Khan has supported the policy, pointing to data suggesting it reduces fatalities and serious injuries on city roads.
