Driver gets bus lane fine after rushing to stricken OAP’s aid
ACANCER patient drove into a bus lane to help a stricken pensioner and was fined by hard-hearted transport bosses.
Trained first aider Rachel Lindford, 42, was ordered to pay £60 after she was recorded entering the lane on the busy Tyburn Road in Erdington.
The mother-of-two, from Sutton Coldfield, pulled over after spotting an elderly woman fall face-first on the pavement on March 5.
She helped the pensioner to her feet and drove her to a GP surgery where she was examined after suffering cuts to her knees and face.
But the Good Samaritan, who is being treated for cervical cancer, was stunned to be sent the fine and has now lost an appeal against the penalty. Birmingham City Council said CCTV footage showed her Ford C-Max drive into the bus lane but did not show her indicate to pull over or a pedestrian on the pavement.
But Mrs Lindford’s husband, Neal, said that both the spot where she parked and the location of the pen- sioner’s fall were out of the camera’s range. He has enlisted a local councillor to help the couple fight the fine and secured a handwritten note from the OAP confirming the truth of their account.
Mr Lindford, a fire safety systems technician, said: “Due to the circumstances, my wife wasn’t even thinking about the fact she pulled into the bus lane and parked for a few minutes.
“She was just trying to help a very distressed elderly lady and do what any other good person would do.”
He also accused the council of stalling over his complaint, meaning the couple would not qualify for the half-price discount on the fine if it was settled in 14 days.
The Lindfords are being backed by Councillor Ewan Mackey, who took up the issue with the council.
He said: “I think the council should be thanking Mrs Lindford and congratulating her for selflessly helping someone who was in danger, not punishing her for monetary gain.
“The bus lanes are meant to be about traffic flows, not a cash cow for the council.”
A council spokeswoman said: “Mr Lindford’s representation was on the grounds that his wife drove into the bus lane in order to assist a lady who had fallen over.
“CCTV footage was reviewed, which confirmed the vehicle drove a considerable distance in the bus lane and did not show the vehicle either indicating to pull over pedestrian on the pavement.
“On this basis the appeal was rejected by the council and by the independent adjudicator from the Traffic Penalty Tribunal.”
The spokeswoman said the case could be reconsidered following the statement from the elderly lady.
She added: “Payment was not received by the council within the 14-day limit for discounted payment and therefore the full penalty charge applies.” or a