Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Give warning letters not fines for first bus lane offence, says RAC

English local authorities generated a combined £127.3 million in revenue from bus lane fines in 2022/23

Neil Lancefield
Tuesday 28 January 2025 19:14 EST
Comments
Many drivers accidentally enter a bus lane (Alamy/PA)
Many drivers accidentally enter a bus lane (Alamy/PA)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Councils should issue warning letters rather than fines to drivers for their first offence of driving in a bus lane. the RAC has said.

The RAC commissioned a poll which found that more than a third (36 per cent) of drivers have accidentally driven in a bus lane

Two out of five (42 per cent) of respondents who said they have entered a bus lane by mistake were caught on camera and asked to pay a fine.

It said the result demonstrates that councils should issue warning letters.

Among drivers surveyed who have entered bus lanes operating only at certain times of the day in their area, 56 per cent believe the signage is inadequate.

Just 4 per cent of motorists admitted deliberately driving in a bus lane.

Only a small percentage admitted to deliberately driving in a bus lane
Only a small percentage admitted to deliberately driving in a bus lane (Getty/iStock)

RAC head of policy Simon Williams said: “We have always maintained that the majority of drivers don’t deliberately set out to drive in bus lanes, so it’s good to see this research confirming that.

“Our suspicions around the visibility and clarity of bus lane signage have also been borne out, with drivers expressing considerable concerns about signs often being hard to spot and difficult to understand.

“We continue to call on councils to write to drivers who stray into bus lanes the first time, rather than simply issuing them with fines.

“While it’s fair that anyone who deliberately drives in bus lanes should expect to be fined, our research shows that far too many drivers end up doing so unwittingly, most probably because the signage really isn’t good enough.”

The Local Government Association was approached for a comment.

Bus lane rules vary, with some only operating at periods of peak congestion, or open to certain other vehicles such as taxis and motorbikes.

Many are enforced by cameras, leading to fines being issued for improper use.

Drivers who enter a bus lane when not permitted on a Transport for London road face being handed a Penalty Charge Notice of £160, reduced to £80 if paid within a specific time frame.

AA analysis of Department for Transport data in June last year showed English local authorities generated a combined £127.3 million in revenue from fining motorists for driving in bus lanes during the 2022/23 financial year.

Taking £47.7 million of costs into account, this resulted in a total surplus of £79.6 million, which the AA claimed proves bus lanes are “a huge money-spinner”.

– The survey of 1,763 UK drivers was conducted by research company Online95 from November 15-24 last year.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in