600 drivers a day caught by new bus lane cameras

Drivers are currently receiving warnings for straying into bus lanes, but if they had been for real they would have raked in at least £18,000 a day for Hull Council, or £250,000 over just a fortnight.

The figure dropped to 440 on Monday and the council hopes the number will reduce further as drivers become aware of the new rules.

After complaints by a driver that she had been sent a warning notice for pulling over to let an ambulance on an emergency call pass by, the council said they would be extending the period of grace by two days, until August 3.

From then fines will be £60, or £30 if paid within a fortnight.

Coun Martin Mancey said he had seen footage of the driver being caught on the Anlaby Road flyover.

The motorist involved has said she thought it was “ludicrous” that she or any other motorist could face a fine for doing the right thing.

Coun Mancey admitted it was not a good example of how the system was supposed to operate, adding: “I hope that in future we will not be issuing warning notices or fixed penalty notices in such circumstances - but each case has to be reviewed on ite merits.

“I think there is always going to be a grey area but we do have a very thorough, fair and independent appeals process.”

The council came in for a flurry of abuse on social media yesterday, but Coun Mancey defended the cameras, saying the views of motorists got too much airtime, while bus passengers who relied on their transport to be punctual, were too often disregarded.

Any surplus after covering the cost of the scheme would be ploughed back into highway improvements. “It’s not the council pocketing money”, he insisted.