Ministers are accused of 'declaring war on motorists' amid bus lane fine hike

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Ministers were accused of declaring war on drivers yesterday after hiking bus lane fines by 17 per cent to £70 – a £10 increase.

Motoring groups reacted with fury to the money grab, warning it would clobber motorists amid record fuel prices and the cost of living crisis.

Fines are currently set at a cap of £60, which is decided by ministers.

But roads minister Baroness Vere told the Lords on Monday: ‘We are increasing bus lane penalties by £10 to align with contraventions of moving traffic and higher-level parking contraventions.’

The £10 rise for councils outside of London is set to start on May 31. But AA president Edmund King pointed out £70 is a day’s wages for someone on a £9.50 minimum wage [File photo]

The £10 rise for councils outside of London is set to start on May 31. But AA president Edmund King pointed out £70 is a day’s wages for someone on a £9.50 minimum wage.

He said: ‘Bus lane fines are set to go up by more than twice the rate of already rampant UK inflation [7 per cent]. With finances for so many on a knife-edge, losing a day’s wages for mistakenly wandering into a bus lane could push many over the cliff.’

Councils raked in £73.7million from the fines in the 12 months to March 2021, of which £38.7million was profit.

A Department for Transport spokesman said: ‘Robust traffic enforcement reduces congestion and deters unsafe drivers.’