London area where people are fined for using bus lane to get onto their drives (2024)

Romford residents keep getting fines for parking on their own driveway.

It’s got so bad, a terminally ill woman, who has since died, had to walk to a nearby car park for a lift to hospital for cancer treatment, according to Aftab Mahboob.

He’s spent a year challenging a Penalty Charge Notices (PCN) issued after he parked outside his home last June.

Usually that would be fine, if it wasn’t for the bus lane he has to drive along in order to access his property, which is next to a bus stop.

It took five attempts to successfully appeal the fine, which had escalated to £145.

Mr Mahboob said: ‘It was a year of my life. It’s the inhuman side that I’m really bothered about. It’s a big deal. There are a few of us who get the tickets.

‘It’s quite important to sort it out – otherwise we would get parking tickets every time we parked on our own drives.

‘I turn into my drive 30 metres from where I started to pull in. Havering Council were nothing but aggressive. They kept sending me letters asking if I knew about the Highway Code. It felt patronising.’

It turns out Mr Mahboob was actually allowed to park this way all along.

When the fine was eventually overturned, parking adjudicator John Lane said: ‘The appellant stated that he was gaining access to his house or the entrance next to it that he rents.

‘The local authority’s Traffic Management Order creates an exemption to do so.’

Havering Council blamed the initial decision on a ‘difference of opinion’ by one of its officers and Mr Lane.

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A spokesperson said: ‘Our officer had to make a judgement as to what was a reasonable length of bus lane to use.

‘The adjudicator has ruled in favour of the resident and the council respects this outcome.’

But this isn’t enough to quell Mr Mahboob’s disgust at the ‘immoral’ way he and his neighbours have been treated by the council, who he believes owes an apology.

He said: ‘This is really wrong. I got a fine for parking on my own drive. I’ve lived here 16 years but the camera has just been put up.

‘My father’s a bus driver so I have massive respect for them. We all want to get by, but this is just a money-making scheme.

‘We are law-abiding citizens and that camera is deliberately put there; it’s perfectly placed and people don’t have the time to fight the fines.

‘People are probably just paying fines because they’re scared of the repercussions.

‘Every time I wrote a letter it took me a week to write because I was working in the day. People don’t have that time and the council know that.

‘My neighbour’s sister – 84 years old – got a fine from the same camera.

‘She was too scared to get another fine and would park in a car park nearby [after receiving the fine] and have to walk her sister to her car for her cancer treatment.

‘The sister had to make her walk to the car park. You should be able to pick up a frail old woman. When you’re old and in chemotherapy you shouldn’t have to do that.

‘But after getting the first fine she wouldn’t park there again. Her sister had to spend the last six months of her life having to walk to the car instead of getting picked up outside her home.

‘She never got to see the end of this fine, but she would have been really happy about it.

‘Another neighbour, an NHS dentist, also got a fine. I believe both of their fines were for driving in the bus lane as well.

‘There are people doing 90mph on the same road, but they’re bothered about us parking on my own driveway.

‘I’ve heard nothing back from the council. Not even a “Sorry for your time”. They don’t really care. I find it quite disgusting, to be honest. It’s quite immoral.’

A council spokesperson said: ‘The Council always looks to carry out any parking and traffic enforcement in a fair and balanced way.

‘This is to help our roads be as safe as possible to use and to keep traffic moving.

‘Enforcement acts as a deterrent to those whose actions could be dangerous or illegal.’

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London area where people are fined for using bus lane to get onto their drives (2024)

FAQs

London area where people are fined for using bus lane to get onto their drives? ›

London area where people are fined for using bus lane to get onto their drives. Romford residents keep getting fines for parking on their own driveway. It's got so bad, a terminally ill woman, who has since died, had to walk to a nearby car park for a lift to hospital for cancer treatment, according to Aftab Mahboob.

What is the fine for driving in the bus lane in London? ›

Driving in a Bus Lane Fine

Inside Greater London, the fine for driving in a bus lane is £160, or £80 if you pay within 14 days. Outside of Greater London, the fine is £65, or £30 if you pay within 14 days. But you won't get any points on your licence if you drive in a bus lane by mistake.

Where are the bus lanes in London? ›

Bus lanes are clearly marked by a solid white line separating them from the rest of the carriageway, supplemented by 'bus lane' road markings and in many cases by red surfacing in the bus lane. The hours of operation are shown on traffic signs and repeated at regular intervals, depending on the local environment.

Can coaches use bus lanes in London? ›

Bus lanes can also be used by commuter coaches, which further supports the aims and objectives of encouraging public transport as opposed to the private car.

What happens if you drive in a bus lane by mistake in the UK? ›

If you drive illegally in a bus lane; bus gate or bus only street then you may receive a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN). Temporary signage will be displayed at locations in the run-up to the go live date of enforcement so that all motorists are aware enforcement by camera will be starting.

Can Uber use bus lanes in London? ›

Remember, only licensed taxi drivers can drive in bus lanes - private hire vehicles are not allowed. Licensed taxi drivers should check the signs at the start of the bus lanes, however, because there are a still a number of bus lanes they cannot use.

What do you say to get out of a bus lane fine? ›

You might want to appeal because: you didn't own the vehicle when it was wrongly driven in the bus lane. You'll have to prove this, for example with a receipt and a copy of the DVLA registration form. the alleged offence didn't take place - for example, because the rules weren't in force when you drove in the bus lane.

What is the fine for bus lane at Oxford road? ›

If you enter a bus lane or use a bus gate, you may get a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) of £60, which will reduce to £30 if you pay within 21 days. Map shows: one-way southbound (blue line)

How do I appeal a bus lane fine in London? ›

You can appeal to the Environment and Traffic Adjudicators (ETA).
  • You will be sent details of your court case which you can choose to attend or not. ...
  • If your challenge is successful, the fine will be withdrawn.
  • If the adjudicators decide that the PCN is valid you will have 28 days to pay it.

Is Oxford Street a bus lane? ›

2.1. Oxford Street is a key street for the central London bus network.

Can electric cars use bus lanes in London? ›

The short answer is no, although such schemes have been trialled. For the most part, the rules for driving an electric vehicle are the same as for vehicles with an internal combustion engine (ICE).

Can ambulances use bus lanes in London? ›

Vehicles that can use a bus lane or gate

Recognised vehicles used for fire brigades, police or ambulance core duties regardless of whether or not they are using blue lights or have blue lights installed (note veterinary ambulances are not exempt from bus lanes / gate controls)

Do you get points for driving in a bus lane in the UK? ›

You will not receive points on your licence. You can find out more about the fine, how to pay and how to appeal if you think the PCN should not have been issued on the parking tickets and bus lane fines page. The police can also issue a Fixed Penalty to vehicles which are using a bus lane or bus only road illegally.

How to successfully appeal a bus lane fine? ›

You can appeal to the Environment and Traffic Adjudicators (ETA).
  1. You will be sent details of your court case which you can choose to attend or not. ...
  2. If your challenge is successful, the fine will be withdrawn.
  3. If the adjudicators decide that the PCN is valid you will have 28 days to pay it.

What time can you drive in a bus lane in London? ›

If there aren't any times dispayed then it's in operation 24 hours a day and must be avoided (see image below). If you are driving at a time outside the hours displayed then you should drive in the bus lane if it's safe and convenient, unless there is an obstruction or you're turning right soon.

What happens if you go through a bus gate? ›

People who have infringed a bus lane or gate will be sent a letter which is a Penalty Charge Notice, which will include photos as evidence. Video evidence will also be available.

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