I noticed another thread about motoring fines received by the OP, one of which included a bus lane infringement.
This may have happened to me today and I half expect I may be receiving a penalty notice soon.
I was exiting an unfamiliar city today. To my left was the empty bus lane, I was in the centre lane and the lane to my right was the oncoming traffic travelling towards the city. There was no bus lane approaching the city. So 3 lanes in total.
I was the first car in my lane followed by a series of vehicles. Approaching the city was a steady stream of vehicles with no real gaps. Blue lights started flashing up ahead. A fire engine approached the city. The traffic in the oncoming lane stopped, the fire engine entered my lane, overtaking the line of traffic, coming directly toward me. I slowed and stopped but I had nowhere to go except the bus lane to my left, as did the vehicles behind me. Reversing would not have been an option.
So I skirted around the fire engine using the bus lane for the shortest possible time and distance (still no buses in sight). How likely is it that I will receive a penalty notice? If caught on camera, will the fire engine issue be obvious in respect of an appeal?
Common sense tells me I'm ok but these things have a habit of biting you on the arse. I've read multiple stories over the years of people moving out of the way for the emergency services at red traffic lights and receiving fines/points.