Ministers are accused of ‘declaring war on motorists’ amid bus lane fine hike

Bus lane fines are hiked to £70 as ministers are accused of ‘declaring war on motorists’ amid record-breaking fuel prices

  • Fury over rise in bus lane fines as they are set to go up by 17% next month
  • The £10 rise for councils outside of London is set to start in a month on May 31 
  • But AA president points out £70 is a day’s wages for someone on minimum wage
  • Councils raked in £73.7million from the fines in the 12 months to March 2021 

Ministers were accused of declaring war on drivers yesterday after hiking bus lane fines by 17 per cent to £70 – a £10 increase.

Motoring groups reacted with fury to the money grab, warning it would clobber motorists amid record fuel prices and the cost of living crisis.

Fines are currently set at a cap of £60, which is decided by ministers.

But roads minister Baroness Vere told the Lords on Monday: ‘We are increasing bus lane penalties by £10 to align with contraventions of moving traffic and higher-level parking contraventions.’

The £10 rise for councils outside of London is set to start on May 31. But AA president Edmund King pointed out £70 is a day’s wages for someone on a £9.50 minimum wage [File photo]

The £10 rise for councils outside of London is set to start on May 31. But AA president Edmund King pointed out £70 is a day’s wages for someone on a £9.50 minimum wage.

He said: ‘Bus lane fines are set to go up by more than twice the rate of already rampant UK inflation [7 per cent]. With finances for so many on a knife-edge, losing a day’s wages for mistakenly wandering into a bus lane could push many over the cliff.’

Councils raked in £73.7million from the fines in the 12 months to March 2021, of which £38.7million was profit. 

A Department for Transport spokesman said: ‘Robust traffic enforcement reduces congestion and deters unsafe drivers.’

Motoring groups reacted with fury to the money grab, warning it would clobber motorists amid record fuel prices and the cost of living crisis

Motoring groups reacted with fury to the money grab, warning it would clobber motorists amid record fuel prices and the cost of living crisis