Sky Sports pundit and former Liverpool midfielder Jamie Redknapp has been banned from driving for 12 months after being caught speeding twice in 2024, including in a 20mph zone in Wandsworth.
The 51-year-old was clocked driving at 28mph in a 20mph zone in Wandsworth in June last year, and at 58mph in a 50mph zone on the M4 near Reading in November. Both offences occurred while Redknapp was behind the wheel of his black electric Audi Q8.
Bexley Magistrates’ Court this week heard that Redknapp already had 12 points on his licence before these incidents, making this his second “totting up” offence. He had previously received a six-month driving ban in 2021. In this latest ruling, he was also ordered to pay £608 in fines and costs.
Redknapp did not attend the court hearing but had submitted a guilty plea in advance. It is his third driving ban, following previous disqualifications in 2015 and 2021.
Redknapp, who earned 17 caps for England during his playing career, has been a prominent football pundit since retiring in 2005.
How Common Are Such Penalties in Wandsworth?
Redknapp’s 28mph offense in Wandsworth’s 20mph zone falls within the most common category of speeding fines in the borough.
Data shows 55% of fines in 2023 were for speeds between 24–27mph, the threshold at which penalties begin (20mph + 10% + 2mph tolerance). Only 10% of fines involved speeds over 30mph.
However, Redknapp’s 12-month ban reflects his status as a repeat offender, not the severity of his speed. First-time offenders in 20mph zones typically face £100 fines and three points. Lengthy bans like Redknapp’s are rare and tied to accumulated points or prior disregard for penalties.
Impact of 20mph Zones in Wandsworth
Since introducing 20mph limits on residential roads in 2021, Wandsworth has seen a 15% reduction in collisions, aligning with Transport for London’s (TfL) findings that even marginal speed cuts lower accident risks.
Compliance, however, remains middling: just 56% of drivers adhere to 20mph limits, lagging behind boroughs like Camden (65%) that pair limits with traffic-calming infrastructure.
Wandsworth’s reliance on mobile cameras—not fixed ones—and limited physical measures (e.g., speed bumps) contribute to inconsistent adherence. Despite this, average speeds on 20mph roads dropped from 28mph to 23mph post-implementation, likely reducing severe injuries.
Wandsworth vs. London: A Broader Comparison
TfL credits 20mph zones with a 20% drop in collisions on affected roads, part of its Vision Zero strategy to eliminate road deaths by 2041. Wandsworth’s 15% collision reduction, while modest, underscores that even partial compliance yields benefits.
Critics argue that driving penalties often feel disproportionate—especially when fines generate revenue (£450,000 in Wandsworth in 2023). On the flip side, TfL reinvests this income into safety initiatives, and evidence shows the life-saving potential of 20mph zones: a pedestrian hit at 20mph has a 90% survival chance, versus 50% at 30mph.
The challenge lies in balancing stricter enforcement with public acceptance, particularly in areas like Wandsworth where drivers often view 20mph limits as unnecessary on wider roads.
