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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think this is excessive? Driving penalty

51 replies

brightbluegentian · 10/09/2020 15:43

I’ve had a penalty in the post. Just to be clear, I did it, I will pay up and have no legal grounds to appeal... but AIBU to think the road layout is confusing and the infringement not the most serious?

I mistakenly went on a bus lane to turn left when it appears I should have taken the parallel left turn.

To think this is excessive? Driving penalty
OP posts:
Idontgiveagriffindamn · 10/09/2020 15:45

From the photo the markings look fairly clear. But that’s from above I guess.

Original poster
brightbluegentian · 10/09/2020 15:46

Yes much clear from the far end of the junction than when you are approaching

OP posts:
MidnightCitrus · 10/09/2020 15:46

was the penalty for driving in a bus lane? how did you miss the markings in the road?

NiceTwin · 10/09/2020 15:47

Looks pretty clear but we have a similar setup here that catches many people out.

Lazypuppy · 10/09/2020 15:47

Ita hard to know without seeing the signs leading up to it.

Original poster
brightbluegentian · 10/09/2020 15:47

There is also no bus lane within a mile of this stretch- the entire thing is the part in the picture

OP posts:
Lazypuppy · 10/09/2020 15:48

Hold on, it literally says BUS on the road!

JemimaTiggywinkle · 10/09/2020 15:49

Yes, that’s a really stupid junction.
I could easily understand why you would think that’s the left turn lane.
There’s usually big blue signs for bus lanes (as well as the road markings) but can’t see from the picture. I guess you might not see the writing on the road until it was too late.

If they didn’t have the metal signs saying bus lanes/cameras/fines applicable etc then I think you could appeal.

Original poster
brightbluegentian · 10/09/2020 15:50

If I’d have stopped or changed direction once I’d seen the writing on the road the lively red car would have gone in the back of me

OP posts:
MJMG2015 · 10/09/2020 15:51

I can beat that, I got one for going into a bus lane. Apparently when you exit the parking area in front of a row of shops, you should get your car into the right hand lane, without crossing through the left hand lane?!. 🙇🏻‍♀️

Disappointedkoala · 10/09/2020 15:51

It says Bus & Bike lane plus the road has a left hand arrow to show which lane you should be in to turn left. Looks clear to me. Sorry!

MigGril · 10/09/2020 15:51

Yes it's clear from this angle, but where there signs leading upto it. I've almost been caught out by bus lanes before when there haven't been clear signs leading upto them.
It's almost like they expect you to know the local road layout, fine if your a local not helpful if you've never been there before.

Original poster
brightbluegentian · 10/09/2020 15:51

@MJMG2015 did you appeal?

OP posts:
DaughterX · 10/09/2020 15:52

When empty, it's obviously a bus lane, but it's hard to tell how you'd know where to go by the markings earlier along the road (can't clearly see from photo).

However this highlights one of my biggest bugbears on the road, which is essential markings that are only on the road (as opposed to on a signpost). Markings painted into the road surface would be very visible... if only others things, like all the cars, buses and lorries, weren't also on the road, covering them up!

If there had been a bus in that lane waiting to turn, i may have also expected to follow it down there, as i wouldn't have been able to see the road markings until too late (unless there's also a sign).

VeggieSausageRoll · 10/09/2020 15:54

It's very clear but it is a ridiculous bus lane. looks barely the length of a bus, and doesn't even give the bus priority. what's the point?

Elsewyre · 10/09/2020 16:12

@brightbluegentian

If I’d have stopped or changed direction once I’d seen the writing on the road the lively red car would have gone in the back of me
Then you really shouldn't be driving so "livley" yourself that you dont have time to read road markings without causing a crash...
Elsewyre · 10/09/2020 16:13

@VeggieSausageRoll

It's very clear but it is a ridiculous bus lane. looks barely the length of a bus, and doesn't even give the bus priority. what's the point?
It's a traffic calming measure the cars are forced to slow down to make the artificially tight turn. Busses can't do it with their size so they get a bypass.
Stannisbaratheonsboxofmatches · 10/09/2020 16:14

I once got done for driving in a bus lane where there actually wasn’t a bus lane!

Tried to appeal it but hadn’t got time to take it past the first stage, which seemed to just be a pro forma letter sent back so I paid. I was definitely right though!

Original poster
brightbluegentian · 10/09/2020 16:15

Sorry typo. Lovely not lively. I was already upsetting them by sticking to the speed limit...

OP posts:
ComtesseDeSpair · 10/09/2020 16:45

I’ve successfully appealed something very similar before with an almost identical road layout - pulling out of a side route onto a main route into a two lane road with an island separating the two lanes, closest lane a bus lane and the furthest one the one other vehicles are supposed to turn onto, markings on the road only visible once you’ve actually made the turn. Clear as mud unless you know the junction and that one lane is a bus lane, which I didn’t.

As far as I’m aware, they can’t increase the fine if you respond within the time frame opting to appeal, so you don’t lose anything by trying.

steemtranes · 10/09/2020 16:47

My DH got caught out like that once when driving through the outskirts of a large town, and he used to be a driving instructor!

Under a freedom of information request, why don't you ask just how many people have received fines at that particular junction over the last couple of years. If the signs before the junction are misleading, they might be ignoring that and happily raking in the fines.

Veterinari · 10/09/2020 16:56

@Elsewyre
Then you really shouldn't be driving so "livley" yourself that you dont have time to read road markings without causing a crash...

It's pretty much impossible to cause a rear end collision when you're the car in front. They inevitably occur when someone (in this case the car behind op) is driving too fast, too close or not paying attention. So your chastisement is pretty inaccurate and unnecessary.

OP I've been caught out at a similar junction in my local area before. Luckily no camera though. The road markings aren't obvious til you're too close to them to do anything about it

dannydyerismydad · 10/09/2020 17:39

Urgh. We have a few unnecessary bus lanes in my town like this. The road markings also render themselves entirely invisible in the rain. I'm lucky I've never been caught out, but plenty have. I really wish they would use coloured tarmac to clearly mark out a bus lane.

Our local council has been complaining that covid has removed an income stream and they are financially suffering because not enough people have been driving down bus lanes during lockdown.

LaurieFairyCake · 10/09/2020 18:34

The problem for me is that it looks like the bit you're meant to go down from
the perspective of the driver approaching is pretty tight to turn Confused

VanillaSpiceCandle · 10/09/2020 18:40

I can totally see why you missed it. It’s one of those road layouts where if you’re not local, you’re already trying to navigate with traffic around you, you’ve got no chance. I did something similar once after a road layout in a city was changed to buses in one part. Even on the charming photo they sent I couldn’t work out where I could have turned!

I didn’t know you could challenge it either.