Motorists Are Being Warned Yet Again – Don’t Drive In Bus Lanes Or You Will Be Fined

The City Council is re-issuing advice to all motorists – don’t breach the Highway Code or you could be fined. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

During August the number of people caught driving illegally in bus lanes and stopping illegally in yellow box junctions have increased since July but the number of people caught by the camera car has reduced dramatically. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Figures show that in August, 7,116 penalty charge notices were issued for the illegal use of bus lanes – up from 7,103 caught in July. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Penalty notices for illegal use of yellow boxes have also increased in August, with 156 penalty notices issued – up from 56 notices issued in July. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The number of people stopping illegally on zig zag lines outside schools and parking in bus stops has declined though, with 148 notices issued in August – down from 350 in July. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Ramesh Patel, Cabinet Member for Transport, Planning and Sustainability, said: “It seems that despite the fact that we are publicising where the cameras are located across the city, the figures show that people continue to use bus lanes illegally, stop illegally in yellow box junctions and continue to jeopordise the safety of school children by parking on zig zag lines outside schools. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Although we have seen a steady decline up until April for Moving Traffic Offences, it seems that the number of people breaching the Highway Code continues to rise since then which is disappointing. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Later this year, we will be expanding the scheme, enforcing other bus lanes, yellow box junctions and bringing in another camera car to enforce banned turns. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The second phase of the scheme is expected to be launched in October 2016 and the Council will advise when the cameras will go live and the enforcement begins.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“This scheme has been designed to improve drivers’ behaviour, to free up the bus lanes for public transport and keep Cardiff moving. We ask all motorists to abide by the rules and drive responsibly and within the law.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The MTO Scheme began in December 2014, when the Council received the authority from the Welsh Government to implement the enforcement scheme. To begin with, the Council enforced the illegal use of bus lanes, with enforcement of yellow box junctions and the use of the camera car starting later in autumn 2015. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The City Council is asking all motorists, please abide by the Highway Code and you will not be fined. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​