Bus lane drivers beware '“ you'll be spotted on new cameras

A bus lane in Edward Street, Brighton (Credit: Google Maps)

Two dozen new cameras are set to pop up around the city to keep bus lanes clear, Brighton and Hove City Council said.

Cameras are set to be installed along the following routes:

- Carden Avenue to Western Road

- Oxford Street and London Road

- Eastern Road and Edward Street

- Vogue Gyratory to Stanmer Park

- A259 Ovingdean and Rottingdean to East Sussex County Council boundary

The council won £267,000 of funding from Coast2Capital for the scheme and is providing match funding of £212,250.

It said revenue from fines will cover ongoing maintenance and support.

Councillor Gill Mitchell, chair of the environment, transport and sustainability committee, said: “Our bus services are extremely popular and that’s why it’s important that we do our bit to ensure dedicated bus lanes are clear for them to use. This in turn improves the journey times and reliability of services for passengers.

“Bus lanes also provide extra space for cyclists, motor cyclists, emergency vehicles and taxis, so bus lane enforcement supports them too.”

A contract for the bus lane cameras was recently awarded to the company Spur Information Solutions Ltd (Conduent) which is currently installing the new cameras and replacing three existing cameras. While work is carried out, short stretches of bus lanes are being closed for brief periods.

The new camera operation is planned to begin in April, but to enable drivers to get used to the new enforcement sites, the council said any vehicle seen driving down the bus lane for the first two weeks of operation will be issued with a warning notice by post. After the two week warning period, penalty charge notices will be issued.