TWO police crackdowns on bus lane misuse in Nottingham last week caught out a grand total of 154 motorists – each of whom now face paying a £30 fixed penalty fine.
In just four hours on the afternoons of Monday April 16 and Wednesday April 18, officers stopped 83 and 71 drivers respectively for driving illegally in the bus lane on Wollaton Road . A handful of drivers were even caught driving in the same bus lane on both days.
The two operations were staged as part of the Respect for Transport campaign, which aims to reduce actual and perceived levels of crime and anti-social behaviour on Nottingham 's buses and trams.
PC Derek Pickering, Nottingham 's public transport beat manager, said: “From one point of view, it's good that we caught so many people who were illegally using bus lanes.
“But from another perspective, it's sad that so many motorists were using the bus lane, and on both days. Ideally, we'd like to see no motorists using bus lanes because they prevent the free flow of public transport.
“We were getting complaints from bus drivers and members of the public about bus lane misuse. There are many people who had got on a bus to go about their business but found their lane clogged by thoughtless motorists.”
The two operations occurred between 4-6pm; all motorists using the bus lane between those times were directed into a car park by PC Pickering where they were interviewed by other officers and given a fine. The majority of motorists caught out were car drivers but others included drivers of vans, flat bed lorries and motorcycles.
PC Pickering said only a small number of motorists caused a fuss about being caught. But at least two motorists stopped in Monday's action were also stopped 48 hours later.
On Monday, the police team also boarded Nottingham City Transport (NCT) buses on Wollaton Road to check for fare dodgers using an electronic card reader. Two passengers were found to be travelling fraudulently and were asked to leave.
The two bus lane crackdowns were regarded as a success by the police, Nottingham City Council and NCT. Similar operations are set to be staged in the near future in a bid to reduce misuse of bus lanes on the basis that greater public transport use reduces Nottingham 's congestion and pollution.
Respect for Transport is backed by Nottinghamshire police, Nottingham City Council, Nottingham City Transport, Nottinghamshire County Council, Nottingham Express Transit, JC Decaux, British Transport Police and Greater Nottingham Transport Partnership's The Big Wheel.
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