Edinburgh orders review of bus lane camera system

A REVIEW of Edinburgh’s controversial new bus lane cameras was ordered yesterday by council chiefs.

The move follows claims that motorists have been fined for turning across bus lanes into side streets, and congestion has been caused by cameras deterring drivers from using the lanes when they are open to all traffic.

The council has not issued fines figures since announcing around 1,000 drivers a day were caught after the £60 fines were first introduced three weeks ago.

The ten camera sites include Calder Road, Old Dalkeith Road, Leith Street, North Bridge and Willowbrae Road.

The controversy is in complete contrast to the simultaneous introduction of cameras on 12 bus lanes by Glasgow City Council, which said there had been no such problems.

The number of fines issued in Glasgow has yet to be published but it is believed to be lower than in Edinburgh.

Edinburgh City Council transport spokeswoman Lesley Hinds said the results of its review would be announced next week.

She said: “In light of the problems currently being experienced by drivers, the new administration has instructed an urgent review of the system recently put in place to monitor illegal use of the city’s bus lanes.

“While we all support the principle of preventing misuse of the city’s bus lanes by general traffic, we also appreciate that any system has to be clearly understood by the public as well as being fairly enforceable.”