Have you mistakenly driven in a bus lane? More than a third of motorists have - so should first-time offenders avoid fines?

• e-mail

It's an easy mistake to make, especially when driving in a new area for the very first time.

That's why more than one in three (36 per cent) motorists have revealed in a nationwide survey that they have accidentally driven in a bus lane - and been fined for it.

Two in five licence holders who have entered a bus lane by fault said they've been caught on camera doing so - and then received a penalty notice in the post.

More than half (56 per cent) of those who have mistakenly driven into a bus lane that's enforced between specific hours also pointed to poor signage for the error.  

Just 4 per cent of the 1,763 UK motorists quizzed admitted deliberately driving in a bus lane.

The RAC, which commissioned the poll, said the survey demonstrates that the majority of drivers enter bus lanes through error and as such councils should issue warning letters rather than penalty charge notices for first time offenders.

With more than a third of motorists telling the RAC that they have at least once accidentally driven in a bus lane, it has called on authorities to change rules around the issuing of fines

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.'

Williams says drivers deserve some lenience due to the volume of information they need to take in while navigating the nation's busy roads. 

'Bus lanes are more common in urban environments where the driver's job in spotting and comprehending bus lane signage is arguably even harder,' he explained.

'There is so much else to take in, from vehicles and other road users to traffic lights and warning signs.

'For these reasons, 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. 

'This can be despite bus lane signage almost certainly meeting government guidelines.

'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.'

AA analysis of DfT data shows English local authorities generated a combined £127.3million in revenue from fining motorists for driving in bus lanes during the 2022/23 financial year

More than half of those who have accidentally driven into a bus lane that's enforced between specific hours pointed to poor or confusing signage for the error

Read More

Councils making a killing from emission zone penalty charges: How many MILLIONS is your local authority generating?

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 £127.3million in revenue from fining motorists for driving in bus lanes during the 2022/23 financial year.

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

The Local Government Association was approached for a comment.