Aberdeen bus lane ban catches 500 on first day

Almost 500 drivers have been caught illegally using bus lanes during the first day of a new enforcement policy being operated by Aberdeen City Council.

• Almost 500 have been caught illegally using bus lanes by new ban enacted by Aberdeen City Council

• Motorists must pay £60 fine, reduced to £30 if paid within 14 days

The local authority took over responsibility for bus lane enforcement on Monday.

And a council spokeswoman revealed: “During day one of the new system, 490 potential offences were detected. Council officers will now check pictures and film footage of each to confirm that an offence was committed, before arranging for warning letters to be sent out.”

She continued: “The figure, while high, is a significant improvement on the number of offences detected during a test carried out last Tuesday when 1,200 motorists were recorded driving illegally in the bus lanes. Enforcement cameras have been placed on strategic routes into the city and the bus lanes are clearly lined and signed.”

Bus lane cameras are being operated on King Street, Wellington Road, Holburn Street, Lang Stracht, North Donside Road, Great Northern Road and Auchmill Road.

Officials have set the penalty at £60 for breaching the rules - reduced to £30 if paid within 14 days.

The council spokeswoman explained: “The council is allowing motorists a grace period and anyone caught flouting the rules in that time will receive a warning letter instead of a charge notice. Repeat offenders, however, will be fined.”