Watchdog brands Newcastle bus lane warning signs ‘inadequate’ for unsuspecting drivers

The Traffic Penalty Tribunal has concluded a three-year review into warning signs on Newcastle’s John Dobson Street, where almost 92,000 drivers were fined in 16 months
Traffic cameras were catching enough drivers using the bus lane to bring in nearly £6,000 a day in fines
PA Archive/PA Images
David Child16 July 2020

Road signs on a bus lane formerly home to one of Britain's most lucrative traffic enforcement cameras have been deemed "misleading and wrong" by a penalty watchdog.

The Traffic Penalty Tribunal (TPT) made the ruling in the case concerning the signs on Newcastle’s John Dobson Street, where almost 92,000 drivers were fined in 16 months, following a three-year review.

According to reports, the traffic cameras were catching enough drivers using the bus lane to bring in nearly £6,000 a day in fines. Fines of £1.5m were reportedly racked up from February to October 2016 alone.

Newcastle City Council said the TPT’s chief adjudicator, Caroline Sheppard, had upheld complaints from motorists and agreed that the signage on the northbound bus lane was inadequate.

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

She added that the "misleading and wrong" warning sign on John Dobson Street itself could be easily obscured by buses and incorrectly implied there were through roads.

Ms Sheppard also said warning letters could have been issued at first to those found contravening the rules, as opposed to an immediate fine.

Fines for drivers improperly using the bus lane were initially charged at £60, but have since been suspended. It is unclear if refunds will now be issued.

Newcastle City Council said it will 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 on John Dobson Street is 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 meanwhile called on the council to 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 and violations have halved.”

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