Taking on the Government Drivers photo fined for making turn into parking lot, otherwise 1.3 mile detour.
Drivers photo fined for making turn into parking lot, otherwise 1.3 mile detour.
(The "claim" is that this is for "safety". But if so, than why allow the buses????)
http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/news/VE-GOTCHA/article-3486978-detail/article.html
Council fines 3,465 drivers for taking 20-metre shortcut – and makes £210k
By alex campbell
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UP TO £210,000 has been raked in by a council in fines after a spy camera caught 3,465 motorists driving along a 20-metre bus lane in just seven months.
The drivers have been snared by Stoke-on-Trent City Council's CCTV car parked on the corner of Huntbach Street, in Hanley.
They were hit with £60 fines for driving on the bus lane which leads to two car parks behind Boots and Marks and Spencer.
Motorists who do not drive along the bus lane face a 1.3-mile detour along Potteries Way to access the two car parks in Meigh Street.
Now drivers have accused the counci, which needs to save £35.6 million this year, of making easy money with the cameras
Pam Harrison, aged 61, of Oversley Road, Fegg Hayes, who was handed a £60 fine last week, said: "I didn't think I would be fined for going on the so-called bus lane; it's just the corner of a road."
Retired railway signalman Tom Willett, aged 81, of Beckford Street, Hanley, said: "It's ridiculous.
"They should get rid of the bus lane and install a right-hand turning lane.
"Pedestrians coming down Huntbach Street don't know if it's safe to cross the road in case cars approaching are going to use the bus lane."
Figures obtained by The Sentinel show 5,361 motorists have been fined for driving on Stoke-on-Trent's nine bus lanes since the cameras were introduced in October.
More than 66 per cent of them have been caught in Huntbach Street.
A further 1,488 were caught in Stafford Street, Hanley; 221 in Hinde Street, Hanley, and 129 in Christchurch Street, in Fenton.
The £60 fine is reduced to £30 if paid within a fortnight.
Council officials today stressed the Huntbach Street bus lane had been prominently advertised and followed a full consultation.
Jane Forshaw, assistant director of city services, said: "The bus lane was introduced following consultation because through traffic was using Town Road, Huntbach Street and Meigh Street as a short cut to bypass Potteries Way.
"This was proving dangerous for pedestrians in the Town Road area and also created delays for bus services using these streets.
"Since the bus lane has been in place it has greatly reduced traffic in Town Road and bus operators say it has reduced delays too.
"Access to the Meigh Street car park should be from the Potteries Way northbound.
"While we appreciate that this means a slightly longer route, there are a plenty of city centre car parks which provide a good choice of places to park."
(Ban the Cams note: I wonder how many of these people who came to town to shop will want to come back after getting wacked for making a right turn into a parking garage???? I wouldn't, would you want to shop there???)
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