Driver in dispute over Derby city centre bus lane fine

Picture: Ian Hodgkinson / Picture It Bus Lane in Derby Pictured Traffic Street

A frustrated motorist has said he’s in dispute with Derby chiefs after being fined for entering the city’s number one spot for bus lane fines.

Peter Rogers said he received a £70 fine from Derby City Council earlier this year for going onto the right-hand bus lane on Traffic Street heading in the direction towards the Royal Telegraph pub.

Last year it was revealed that almost 20,000 motorists were fined for entering the Traffic Street bus lanes in 2024 – with the council making more than £700,000 from the penalties, and a Freedom of Information request to the council states that Traffic Street remains top of the list for bus lane fines issued so far this year.

A white sign advising there is a bus lane ahead is erected towards the top of Hope Street, close to the junction with Traffic Street.

But Mr Rogers claims construction was work taking place at the Texaco garage at the time which “obscured” the white sign.

He said there was no other sign or markings beyond that point to warn him a bus lane was there.

Mr Rogers said: “It is a really poor situation for drivers from Hope Street as I suspect many have been trapped unaware – especially if trying to get out into a busy road, then suddenly find the right hand lane turns out to be a unmarked Bus Lane with the camera catching you immediately.

“I have been caught out recently by it and currently in dispute with the council. My situation was made worse by the works at the garage which at the time obscured the white sign on Hope Street on the day so I had no warning at all.”

Mr Rogers also questioned the signage in the area.

He added: “I understand the “information” sign which is white on Hope Street is different to blue “mandatory” bus lane signs, which do not exist for people coming from Hope Street.

“I’m not sure if that makes a legal difference or not.”

Derby City Council defended the signage in the area and said enforcement was suspended for a period of time due to works taking place.

A spokesperson for Derby City Council said: “The signage to indicate the Bus Gate restriction on Traffic Street meets the regulatory requirements and has indeed very recently been tested by the independent Traffic Penalty Tribunal where an independent adjudicator concluded that the restriction is clearly marked and signed.

“We were aware of the works going on in this location, and suspended enforcement during that time to ensure that drivers were not unfairly penalised.

“An analysis of data shows that there has been no significant changes in contravention levels to indicate motorists weren’t aware of the restriction in place.”

This is not the first time the bus lane has caused controversy.

Just over two years ago, the LDRS reported that a Derby pensioner – who did not want to be named – challenged the council over a fine for entering the bus lane.

The livid pensioner from Allestree claimed the council was making thousands of pounds in income by catching drivers entering “the last two yards”.