Bus lane problem...

M0T · 20 Jul 2008 at 19:06

Earlier today I was coming home and because of road works was sent on a diversion down a road I barely use, when I got towards the junction at the end there was a huge queue of traffic and a perfectly empty bus lane.

Since I knew that after the junction the bus lane was signposted as 7am-7pm mon-sat I drove down the bus lane. However when I got towards the end of it I saw a different sign on that section saying it was Buses, Taxis, HGVs, motorcycles that didn't have any hours of operation on it. I got worried and went back down the road and at no point on any of the bus lane signs does it have any hours of operation.

Does this mean I'm screwed? When I went back along it I couldn't see any visible cameras (The road was 'finished' about a year ago but most of the traffic lights on it haven't been installed so I am hoping theres no camera yet) and there were a number of vehicles using it (including a driving instructor).

Is there a maximum length of time they have to send the notice to you (like having the 14 days to issue a speeding ticket)?

londonbairn · 20 Jul 2008 at 19:09

youll be fine I imagine, same sign scheme on the buslane I go down on Sundays that is mon-sat.

M0T · 20 Jul 2008 at 21:07

According to the stuff I could find on the internet no times means its 24/7

SoliD · 20 Jul 2008 at 21:14

Should only be a problem if there are bus lane cameras. Dunno where you live but not all bus lanes have the cameras so fingers crossed you might be ok.

DannyDan · 20 Jul 2008 at 21:22

Wouldn't worry about it, i've been through bus lanes countless times and not heard anything.

LoadsaMoney · 20 Jul 2008 at 21:30

SoliD said:
Should only be a problem if there are bus lane cameras. Dunno where you live but not all bus lanes have the cameras so fingers crossed you might be ok.

If they do then he's buggered twice, as he says he drove back down it to check.

OllyM · 20 Jul 2008 at 21:39

They often use CCTV to convict people of driving in bus lanes, so you might not notice them until you get something through the post a while later.

As I found out when somebody cloned my car and drove through a bus lane.

londonbairn · 20 Jul 2008 at 21:54

the tfl cctv cameras in my area are easy to spot, i think drivers take pictures also.

they also use CCTV to catch parking incidents in my borough, i stopped for 1 second to pick someone up and got caught by it!