Auckland bus lanes causing $4.2m angst

Auckland city motorists have paid $4.2 million in fines over the year for driving in poorly-signed bus lanes a leading traffic lawyer has slammed as disgraceful.

Driving in a bus lane attracts a fine of $150 with the rule being that a driver cannot turn left on a bus lane unless within 50 metres of that turn.

The 50 metre rule came into effect last November.

City council officers often place cameras at the 50 metre mark to record infringements, but there are no road signs to indicate when motorists can enter a bus lane to turn left.

The New Zealand Herald reported today councils have been flooded with complaints from ticketed motorists claiming they were within the 50m space.

Traffic defence lawyer Steve Cullen told the paper the lack of signage is disgraceful.

Mr Cullen said councils were irresponsible by failing to back up the rules with sufficient public awareness campaigns and signage.

"Quite frankly, I just think it's a really unpleasant area of the law because they don't advertise the signage and they don't have any discretion, it seems, to waive somebody who, in complete blissful unawareness, thinks they're driving on a legitimate road and find themselves in trouble," he told the Herald.

In seven years since bus lanes were introduced, the Auckland City Council has issued $13 million worth of tickets.

In the past financial year, an average of 77 motorists a day have been fined, bringing in a total of $4.2 million.

Grafton Bridge, a bus-only road between 7am and 7pm on weekdays, has seen more than $2.5 million worth of fines been handed out.

Ken Baguley, chairman of the Auckland City Council's transport committee, said his council was considering putting permanent markers at intersections, but there were significant practical difficulties.

Signage clutter was already a problem, and it would take 200 new signs to mark Remuera Road's bus lane intersections alone, he said.

Moreover, the rule applies not only to intersections but also to every driveway off a bus lane.

"It's a bit of an obscure rule. It's a difficult thing. But in the end, it's all part of why we have bus lanes - because we want to give a quicker traffic experience to people who make the effort to take public transport rather than travelling alone in a car," Mr Baguley said.

TVNZ's Fair Go has campaigned against the rule, calling for signs or an immediate moratorium on the bus lane fines.

- © Fairfax NZ News