Explosion of bus lane cameras in lockdown

DRIVERS were hammered with a record £11 million in bus lane fines in Scotland last year as the number of cameras in place to snare motorists shot up during lockdown.

There were more than 180,000 fines issued in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen where enforcement cameras operate – around one every three minutes.

The number was up almost 30 per cent on the year before.

Meanwhile, the number of cameras in place to catch drivers who strayed into the lanes also rose by more than 50 per cent in the past two years.

Last night critics said the ‘proliferation’ of cameras was no surprise as local authorities look to top up their income from motorists who were committing ‘victimless crimes’.

Figures obtained by The Scottish Mail on Sunday show the number of bus lane fines issued last year in Glasgow was around 80,000.

Last year, a further 54,000 fines were issued in Edinburgh, a 60 per cent increase on the year before, with 49,000 in Aberdeen, more than double the previous year’s figure.

The £60 fines are reduced to £30 if paid within 14 days and increased to £90 if unpaid after 28 days.

The AA’s Luke Bosdet said: ‘Bearing in mind how ruthless Scottish local authorities have been in enforcing bus lane fines, the threat of even more fines should send a shiver down the spines of drivers in Scotland.’

Brian Gregory, policy director at the Alliance of British Drivers, said the signage is often confusing. He added: ‘Many drivers don’t realise they are in a bus lane until they have encroached and incurred a fine.’

A spokesman for Glasgow City Council said: ‘Giving buses priority on key routes gives operators the chance to run the kind of reliable and efficient services that people want.’

Councillor Lesley Macinnes, Edinburgh City Council’s transport and environment convener, said: ‘Bus lane enforcement is vital in discouraging misuse of bus lanes by drivers which increases bus journey times.’

A spokesman for Aberdeen City Council also defended the bus lane fines, saying: ‘Restrictions are vital to ensuring a managed flow of traffic and that is the prime aim of cameras, rather than generating revenue.’