Motorists’ mishaps are costing them millions in fines, according to insurer Confused.com.
Councils in Wales are raked in almost £6 million in fines on drivers for passing through a bus lane in just one year.
New research reveals motorists in the region are left feeling confused by bus lane signage, and are making calls for them to be made clearer, as thousands are caught driving in a prohibited lane in one year alone.
In fact, new data, obtained by Confused.com through Freedom of Information requests to local authorities found that 84,199 motorists in Wales were on the receiving end of a fine for driving in a prohibited bus lane in 2017 – which would amount to £5,893,930 in fines – averaging £70 per fine. In particular, motorists in Cardiff accounted for the majority of these, with 79,907 drivers finding a fine on their doorstep – which could cost as much as £5,593,490 if motorists were to pay the maximum cost of £70 per fine. It is no secret bus lanes can carry many rules and restrictions, meaning that it can be confusing for motorists to know when they can use them, if at all. And thousands of drivers have lost the ‘can I, can’t I?’ battle and were served with a fine. | Cardiff Council issued 79,000 bus lane fines to drivers in 2017. · Almost two thirds (62%) motorists in Wales who have driven in a bus lane were muddled and did so unknowingly. · More than two fifths (44%) of drivers in the region call for bus lane fines to be put into making bus lane signage clearer, and in turn reduce the amount of confusion. |
However, it isn’t just motorists in Wales that appear to be baffled by bus lanes. In fact, a whopping 888,760 drivers across the UK were on the receiving end of a fine for driving in a prohibited bus lane, paying as much as £41,807,647 in fines.
While councils may argue that bus lanes are sign posted to make drivers aware, it seems that they aren’t quite clear enough for motorists, which is leading to a lot of confusion.
In fact, more than a third (36%) of motorists in Wales have driven in a bus lane, although, worryingly, almost two thirds (62%) of these weren’t aware of it at the time. It’s no wonder more than two fifths (44%) of drivers in the region would like to see the money raised in bus lane fines spent making bus lane signs clearer, and a further two in five (38%) wanting to see the lanes more clearly marked.