There has been an overwhelming increase in the average number of delayed fire engines from eight a day in 2021 to almost 11 a day in 2025.
Road works and traffic congestion have delayed a further 42,857 blue light calls over the past five years – as the number of delayed fire engines has increased from 21 per day in 2021 to nearly 31 per day in 2025.
A former firefighter, 81, who was based in the West End of London and wished not to be named, said: “It is hard enough driving a fire engine but when they put conditions in like sleeping policemen [speed humps] and low traffic areas it makes it impossible.
“Every second counts because you have got to get people out as quickly as possible into fresh air or else they are dead. If you are delayed on the way there, then the premises is on fire for a longer time, and you only need so much carbon monoxide in your body and you are dead.
“It is terrifying.”
Former mayoral candidate, Howard Cox, said: “He (Khan) has created an emergency services nightmare through his deliberate and ill-informed pursuit of making cars extinct via LTNs and extensive cycle lanes.
“These ego-driven policies have caused fire appliances and ambulances to be blocked and delayed, and so seriously impacted their ability to save lives.”
Khan’s traffic calming policies and management of traffic and road works has led to a total of 58,123 fire engines being delayed in the past five years alone.
This figure takes up a sizable chunk of the 810,947 total calls over this time scale, and the trends show it is only getting worse.
London Assembly member and Transport and Environment spokesperson Thomas Turrell said: “Every second counts in an emergency yet our transport policies are being driven by anti-car dogma.
“So-called LTNs create more congestion, they create obstacles, they add seconds and minutes to vehicles responding to emergencies.
“This is absolutely ludicrous.”
Some areas are of particular concern– the calls to Soho fire station which have been delayed due to traffic calming has jumped from 65 in 2021 to 153 last year, with a further 70 emergency call outs delayed in the first five months of 2025.
The highest number of delays has been at Southgate where there have been 514 delays since January 2021.
The figures above reflect data up to May 31, 2025, and can be found on the LFB website.
A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: “Londoners rely on our prompt arrival when they are in need of our help and support, which is why we work hard to meet our attendance targets, and are proud that we are currently doing so successfully.
“We support proposals to promote active travel and reduce speeds around London.
“The Brigade also works closely with local authority partners and is consulted about road closure or traffic calming proposals.
“If we have any concerns that proposed changes may impact our response times, we will raise these and work with the local authority to find a solution.”
The Mayor of London’s office has been contacted for comment.
Featured image credit: Ben Keating
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