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

With an increase in Fixed Penalty Notices issued to motorists for illegal driving in bus lanes in the last two months, all motorists are being advised to abide by the Highway Code or face being fined. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Until April 2016, there was a steady decline for over 6 months in the number of penalty notices issued for bus lane violations, with only 5 955 tickets issued in March. In April this increased to 6,389 tickets being issued and May’s figure shows a further increase to 6, 855 tickets being issued. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Ramesh Patel, Cabinet Member for Transport, Planning and Sustainability, said: “After a steady decline in the number of tickets issued up until this March this year for the illegal use of bus lanes, it is disappointing that the trend hasn’t continued. Everyone should now know where the cameras are placed, as the locations have been widely publicised. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Recently it has been publicised that the Council has generated £10 million pounds in income from Moving Traffic Offences, parking revenue and parking fines. What this figure doesn’t take into account is the cost of these schemes which is in excess of £5 million pounds. After the costs are paid, all remaining income is ring fenced in law for transport and highway improvements. Recent schemes which have benefited from this income include the Cardiff East Park & Ride facility, upgrades to car parks, the city centre mobility assistance scheme, installation of disabled bays and the works required for the implementation of the Moving Traffic Offences Scheme. Future schemes earmarked for funding include the development of Waungron Road Bus Interchange. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The scheme has been designed to improve drivers’ behaviour, to free up the bus lanes for public transport and keep Cardiff moving. It people didn’t breach the law the Council wouldn’t make any income from this enforcement, so the message is simple – don’t break the law and you will not be fined.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

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. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​