Residents on Sandhurst Road in Catford, southeast London, secretly installed a fake speed camera after years of complaining about dangerous driving. The road has become a busy cut-through, with buses passing every few minutes and crashes happening regularly.
The DIY camera, which looked like a real enforcement device, appeared overnight on Monday. Drivers immediately began slowing down, and locals noticed the road felt calmer for the first time in years. Many described the makeshift camera as “brilliant” and said it achieved more in two days than the council had in years.
But by Wednesday morning, council workers arrived with a crane and removed it, sparking anger among residents. They say the camera briefly enforced the 20mph limit and proved how quickly behaviour could change.
Members of local groups, including Safer Sandhurst & Sangley and Together for Verdant Lane, praised the anonymous resident who put up the device, calling them a “local hero.” One resident said: “It looked convincing, and it really did slow traffic. The difference was surprising. Now we’re back to normal - speeding, pavement parking, and no action from the council.”
Freedom of Information data shows more than 17,000 speeding incidents involving buses on the road since 2021, with some travelling at over twice the legal limit. TfL also confirmed 85 bus-related crashes in the area over four years.
Other residents shared similar frustrations. One man said he was disappointed to learn the camera wasn’t real because traffic had noticeably calmed. Another compared the area to “Mad Max,” saying cars regularly hit 60mph and that crashes have destroyed homes and written off multiple vehicles.
Lewisham Council said they “strongly discourage” installing fake signs or cameras, warning that residents could face legal consequences if an accident occurs. The council says it has been working with locals and plans to introduce traffic-calming features such as planters and new street furniture, while also passing concerns about bus speeds to TfL. They added that wider changes are being considered through their Sustainable Streets programme.
