HGV drivers have been put on notice after a London council unveiled a tougher CCTV enforcement campaign that could see lorry operators hit with £160 fines for ignoring residential road restrictions.
Wandsworth Council says it is stepping up surveillance across the borough after repeated complaints from residents about heavy goods vehicles using streets that are unsuitable for large lorries.
The authority will deploy more CCTV enforcement vehicles to catch drivers of vehicles weighing more than 7.5 tonnes who ignore weight restriction signs and use residential roads as shortcuts.
Drivers caught breaching the restrictions face a £160 Penalty Charge Notice, with CCTV footage used to identify offending vehicles before fines are issued.
The crackdown is being focused on areas where residents have repeatedly raised concerns, including Southfields, Putney, Earlsfield, Battersea and Tooting.
Councillor Daniel Hamilton, Wandsworth Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport, said the restrictions exist to protect both residents and local infrastructure.
“Weight restriction road signs are there for a purpose – to protect residents and road surfaces from vehicles that are too big and heavy for local streets,” he said.
He added that larger lorries can damage parked cars, accelerate road wear and contribute to potholes on roads that were never designed for frequent HGV traffic.
The council issued 29 Penalty Charge Notices in June alone, but expects that figure to rise as enforcement is expanded throughout the summer.
Roving CCTV vehicles patrol different parts of the borough, recording registration numbers, locations and times before council officers review the footage to confirm an offence has been committed.
Only vehicles that qualify as HGVs and are found to have breached the restrictions receive penalties.
The council stressed that not every HGV entering a restricted road is breaking the rules.
Exemptions remain in place for deliveries, construction work, servicing businesses and accessing properties within restricted zones.
Instead, the enforcement drive is aimed at stopping drivers who ignore clearly marked weight limits to save time by cutting through residential streets.
Officials say reducing unnecessary HGV traffic will improve road safety, help prevent potholes, reduce damage to parked vehicles and make neighbourhoods safer for pedestrians and cyclists.
The council has warned it will continue monitoring compliance, with additional CCTV enforcement likely in areas where drivers continue to flout the rules.
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