Drivers could not be fined for going into bus lanes 'as suspicions borne out'

More than a third of motorists have mistakenly driven into a bus lane, according to a new poll. The RAC, the organisation behind the survey, argues this suggests local councils ought to send warning letters rather than fines to first-time offenders.

42% of those who admitted to unintentionally entering a bus lane were caught on camera and fined. An issue with signage was flagged by 56% of drivers polled who had navigated bus lanes that are only operational at specific times, stating they think the signs are insufficient.

Only 4% fessed up to intentionally driving in a bus lane. Simon Williams from RAC 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.

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Drivers who enter a bus lane when not