Bus lane that raked in £6,000 a day in fines had ‘inadequate’ signs, tribunal hears

Newcastle City Council should redesign its signage plan, AA president says

Nearly 92,000 drivers were fined over 16 months on Newcastle's John Dobson Street (Susannah Ireland)

Road signs on one of the country's most lucrative bus lanes for fines have been deemed inadequate by a penalty watchdog.

After a three-year review, the Traffic Penalty Tribunal (TPT) has made a ruling in the case of Newcastle's John Dobson Street, where almost 92,000 drivers were fined in 16 months.

According to reports, the traffic cameras were catching enough drivers using the bus lane to bring in £6,000 a day in fines.

Newcastle City Council said the TPT's chief adjudicator had upheld complaints and agreed that the signage on the northbound bus lane was inadequate.

Announcing her decision, Caroline Sheppard said the TPT's view was that the city council had not given motorists heading into the city centre sufficient warning of the fact that restrictions were in place in John Dobson Street.

Newcastle City Council said it would now consider its options.

Arlene Ainsley, cabinet member for transport and air quality, said: “Naturally we are very disappointed with these findings and with the unacceptable length of time it has taken for this review to be completed, which shows a total disregard for the city and those drivers affected.

“We would absolutely refute any suggestion that the council has been negligent or has misled drivers in any way, particularly as the measures we put in place were compliant with the government guidelines.

“Today's decision leaves us in a position where our signage has been deemed inadequate by the chief adjudicator for the Traffic Penalty Tribunal, even though it meets government requirements.

“Clearly there is a discrepancy between the requirements set by the Department for Transport and the standards expected by the Traffic Penalty Tribunal.”

She added: “Let's be clear, bus lanes are not there to make money for the council. They are there to help keep our highways network running smoothly, support public transport services and help improve our air quality.”

The council said that, while the signage on the northbound bus lane in John Dobson Street was reviewed, all enforcement will remain suspended and those driving through will receive warning letters.

Enforcement on the southbound bus lane – travelling away from the Civic Centre – will continue.

AA president Edmund King said the council should redesign its signage plan.

“Drivers should not drive in bus lanes but the fact that 92,000 did in just 16 months shows clearly that something is wrong with the signing and layout of this scheme,” he said.

“Rather than wasting more public money with an appeal, the local authority should redesign the scheme and signage to make it clearer. This was done following a similar tribunal decision in Lambeth [in south London] and violations have halved.”

Press Association