Jobs

Motoring

Penalty for driving in a bus lane

OK, so I know I have no excuse for this and it makes me really angry when I see other people driving in bus lanes when I never do. Apart from once... when I turn left onto a road which has a bus lane, and then about 50 yards down I turn left again onto the road I live on. I nearly always go across the bus lane into the normal lane, then come back across the bus lane to turn left 5 seconds later. But this one time I just drove into the bus lane due to really heavy traffic - I wouldn't have done it if I was getting in anyone else's way, the bus lane was clear.

I'm just wondering if there is a rule about how long you have to be in a bus lane for in order to get penalised, it can't have been more than 30m or so? I will pay the fine, I just find it so unfuriating because I did it once when I was 100m away from home, and yet every day I drive next to a bus lane all the way home and see so many other people driving in bus lanes.

Is there any way out of this or do I just have to pay it and stop moaning?

Thanks
:-)

Emu2005 Wed 24/09/08 17:52

<< Previous

Next >>

Subscribe to question

Post an Answer

Jillius
Wed 24/09/08
17:53

You should have been eating a bowl of Crunchy Nut Cornflakes ! You could have said you were making the tv ad lol !

derekpara
Wed 24/09/08
19:18

Driving in bus lanes is only prohibited during the times posted on the sign where the lane begins. A few are prohibited use ' at all times' but most for a few hours, mainly rush hours, say 7-10am and 4-6pm.

I sometimes travel for well over half a mile along bus lanes in London while everyone else is queueing, and no doubt cursing me and hoping I get a ticket. The thing is, I read the signs ! If anyone knows south London, the bus lane from Deptford to New Cross Gate is a classic example .

So, check the times on your particular bus lane - perhaps you've got nothing to worry about.

keyplus90
Thurs 25/09/08
11:01

Emu- I am afraid there is not much excuse about this as they need money. Secondly all the people you see driving in bus lane during restricted hours must be getting tickets as well. But of course you would not know as those tickets are not posted to your address.

One bus lane cost me over £600 once. Because my wife avoided that during her driving test but examiner failed her for not driving in the bus lane when it was allowed during those hours. More lesson, more, tests and more money. It works other way too.

Otherwise hire this man.

http://www.freemankeepondriving.com/?gclid=CLO 3rL7X9pUCFQyR1QodAlJ-4A

Emu2005
Thurs 25/09/08
11:14

Question Author

Thanks for all your answers - I've paid the fine and will stop going on about it now.

I take your point keyplus, but the bus lane I got caught in has cameras monitoring it, the others I drive next to every day don't have any cameras so people will only get caught if the police are around. Just seems unfair as what I did didn't seem to affect anyone else, and other people are deliberately driving for long distances illegally in bus lanes.

I have written to the council saying I have paid the fine but asked them what they do about people driving in the other bus lanes!

JonnyBoy12
Fri 26/09/08
21:45

I drive in bus lanes all the time!

I am a bus driver, that's why! Become a bus driver, and then you can drive anywhere you want, except Pall Mall. It is a really good feeling I can tell you.

Post an Answer

Submit the above question and answers

add to del.icio.us	add to digg	add to furl
add to reddit	add to Technorati	add to Blinklist
add to StumbleUpon	add to squidoo	add to ma.gnolia
add to Cocomment	add to Netscape	add to Fark