Call to axe Derby bus lanes that issued 70,000 fines in two years

The figures were revealed following a Freedom of Information request

A call has been made to scrap bus lanes in a city centre after more than 70,000 fines were issued to motorists for driving in them in just two years.

The Alliance of British Drivers called bus lanes "a total waste of space" after a Freedom of Information request on the issue to Derby City Council.

It revealed that 73,899 fines had been issued - 41,224 in 2022 and 32,675 in 2023.

The authority said enforcement was necessary to make bus travel "easier".

The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) said a "huge proportion" of the fines - 52,059 in total - came from the "bus gate" situated at Corporation Street.

Income from the enforcement has generated at least £2.5m, the LDRS added, based on each fine resulting in a £35 charge - the discounted rate if paid within a certain timeframe.

Derby City Council said bus lanes were designed to make travel easier

Brian Gregory, policy director at the Alliance of British Drivers, said he believed the huge proportion of fines at Corporation Street suggested there was something "wrong with the signage".

"We think bus lanes are a total waste of space. Most times bus lanes are empty", he added.

"They are just of way of making city centre mobility even worse and jamming traffic into smaller spaces increases emissions, driver frustration and stress.

"In Liverpool they had taken the bus lanes out and seen improvements in traffic flow. It's far better not to have them."

The council has insisted on "numerous occasions" that its signage for the bus lane meets national standards, the LDRS said.

A spokesperson for the authority added: "Bus lanes are introduced with the goal of making it easier for citizens to travel by bus and enforcement is necessary to ensure that this is possible.

"There are approximately 400,000 vehicle trips made every day with the city, demonstrating that the vast majority of drivers comply with the restrictions and do not receive penalties.

"Enforcement of bus lanes cannot be implemented to raise revenue and has to be justified. Money from penalty charges is used, as required by law, to support the costs involved in operating enforcement systems. Any further revenue generated is used to support programmes for repairs and maintenance across a range of highways, transport and parking programmes within the city.

"Many of our bus lanes have signage exceeding the national requirements and have been reviewed to maintain consistency and clarity for road users."