Doncaster Council rakes in hundreds of thousands from bus lane fines

Doncaster has two of the most lucrative bus lanes in the Yorkshire & Humber region and the council cashed in with drivers paying hundreds of thousands in just one year.
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New data shows two bus lane cameras at Waterdale and Cleveland Street raked in over £700,000 in 2019 alone. Doncaster has only three bus lane cameras in the whole borough.

Cleveland Street bus lane brought in £410,000 while the Waterdale device returned £302,000. A bus lane on Northgate made the council £244,000.

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DMBC did not disclose how many fixed penalty notices (PCNs) were issued per bus lane but the combined revenue totalled £956,000. In 2018, bus lane revenue to DMBC was £135,800.

Bus Lane Camera Photograph Cleveland StreetBus Lane Camera Photograph Cleveland Street
Bus Lane Camera Photograph Cleveland Street

The council issued 6,805 PCNs in 2018 but this increased to 42,470 in 2019. Appeals to the council also increased from 778 in 2018 to 4,988 in 2019.

Doncaster had the fourth highest revenue from bus lanes behind Bradford, Leeds and Sheffield.

Council bosses said the money made from fines is ring-fenced to be used on highways improvements.

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The data was compiled by insurance company Confused.com who said new research found confusion caused by ‘unclear signage’ was the most common factor blamed followed by ‘unclear road markings’.

Bus Lane Camera Photo WaterdaleBus Lane Camera Photo Waterdale
Bus Lane Camera Photo Waterdale

Dan Swaine, director of economy and environment at DMBC, said: “These town centre bus lanes are in place to ease congestion and help keep buses and other traffic flowing, as well as assisting access for emergency services and taxis.

“Our CCTV-mounted bus lane cameras help to enforce this and warnings are signposted and on road markings for drivers so they know to stay clear of bus lanes.

“The income from bus lane/gate enforcement is governed by legislation and can only be used for the set-up, operational costs and highway improvements including provisions for public transport.

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“In 2019/2020 the income generated from drivers breaking the law by entering these bus lanes was put back into our highways services to fund highway schemes and improved parking provisions, including new machines for our town centre car parks.”

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