Drivers Face Fines For Using Bus Lanes

Submitted by edg on Mon, 23 Apr '12 4.43pm

Drivers in Edinburgh face fines of up to £60 from today (23 April) if caught using bus lanes. The Scottish Government decriminalised bus lane enforcement this February, which granted the City of Edinburgh Council the power to fine drivers who use them during operational hours.

Closed circuit cameras have been installed on 10 bus routes in the Capital and have been tested out over the past three weeks.

The cameras record the number plates of any vehicle using the bus lanes and computer software checks the details against a list of exempt vehicles such as buses, taxis, cyles, community transport and emergency services, which are permitted to use the lanes.

As well as an advertising campaign alerting people to the plans, warning letters have been sent to drivers caught flouting the rules.

“Bus lanes allow public transport to flow move easily around the city and get to their destination as quickly as possible, but this only happens if they are kept clear of other vehicles," said Councillor Gordon Mackenzie, Transport Convener.

“Fining drivers who use these lanes in order to beat traffic queues, unless there is an ongoing emergency, will send out a clear message that these rules are there for good reasons, to cut congestion and pollution."