Councils set to fine drivers who use bus lanes

Councils in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen have called for the right to install cameras in bus lanes and issue fines to drivers who use them to escape city gridlock.

Monitoring of bus lanes is currently done by the police, but they rarely fine drivers for using them. Now local authorities have asked Scottish ministers to amend the law so that councils can install cameras.

Hugh Bladon, from the Institute of Advanced Motorists, said: "These cameras will prove easy pickings for councils struggling to make ends meet. This has absolutely nothing to do with safety or traffic flow - it's just another tax on motorists.

"It would be crazy to place bus lane enforcement in their hands and I don't think motorists will stand for it."

However, Glasgow councillor Jim Coleman said he thought that the plans make sense for bus users.

He said: "It would allow the city to respond better to the problems created by the abuse of lanes by the minority of drivers who inconvenience thousands of travellers and threaten safety every day."

Phillip Gomm, of the RAC, said: "Many motorists equate cameras with easy money for councils to shore up their dwindling budgets.

"Bus lane rules need to be enforced, but only to help keep public transport moving. If the regulations are being repeatedly flouted then councils need to ask why.

"Is it that drivers are being squeezed off the streets by buses which, despite the myths, are not a convenient way for everyone to travel?"