Understanding the Bus Lane Fine 20 Metre Rule

Do you want to know about the bus lane fine 20-metre rule? You’re in the right spot. This article is here to answer all your questions.

Every month, more than 130,000 people come to our website looking for advice about their fines and parking tickets, so you’re not alone. In fact, Churchill Motor Insurance reports that in 2022, UK councils issued an average of 19,631 daily parking fines, a 12% increase from the previous year.¹

In this article, we will cover:

What a bus lane is.
How much bus lane fines are in the UK.
The truth about the bus lane fine 20 metre rule.
Ways to avoid a bus lane fine.
How to appeal a bus lane fine.

Getting a bus lane fine can be upsetting. But don’t worry; we’re here to help. We have lots of helpful tips and examples to help you work through this.

We understand how you feel, and we’re here to make things easier for you. So, let’s get started.

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What is the bus lane fine 20 metre rule?

The bus lane fine 20-metre rule is a false rule that all motorists are allowed to enter a bus lane by mistake and exit it without getting fined.

Provided they travelled less than 20 metres in the bus lane.

Many motorists believe this rule but it’s a myth.

One reason it isn’t true is that creating such a rule could cause dangerous driving.

If you find yourself in a bus lane by mistake, you should only exit the lane when it is safe to do so, which may not be within 20 metres of entering the lane.

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How many metres can you travel in a bus lane (UK)?

Entering a bus lane for any length of time can result in a Penalty Charge Notice.

The 20-metre bus lane rule is fictitious, so even entering briefly is considered a contravention.

Also, be aware, there are accounts online of drivers receiving two bus lane fines for using a bus lane more than once on the same journey.

Check the right challenge process

Check whether you need to make an informal challenge, formal representations or an independent tribunal appeal. Follow the route and deadline printed on your notice. London cases generally go to London Tribunals; relevant cases in England outside London and Wales go to the Traffic Penalty Tribunal. Other UK jurisdictions have different procedures.

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General information. The procedure depends on the notice and jurisdiction. Check the issuer’s instructions.

What happens if you ignore the fine?

If you ignore a bus lane fine, the local authority will increase the fine by 50%.

So fines in London can increase to £240 or £90 in the majority of places outside the capital.

If the newly increased fine goes unpaid by a new deadline, the authority can ask for the fine to be registered as a real debt.

Not paying a debt is serious, and the courts can grant permission for debt enforcement services to be used, namely bailiffs.

I’ve included a message from one motorist who received a second payment demand showing the penalty had increased because they missed the deadline.

Source: Moneysavingexpert

How can you get out of it?

Paying a bus lane fine early to score a 50% reduction is a tempting plan, but you might be able to get out of the fine altogether. If you make a successful PCN appeal.

You have a right to appeal a bus lane fine within so many days, but there are limited excuses that can get you off the hook.

Because you only have to have entered the bus lane at all – purposefully or mistakenly – and because the event will be on camera, there aren’t too many excuses that can stop you from having to pay.

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How much are the fines?

Bus lane fines in London cost £160 but are reduced to £80 if paid within 14 days.

Bus lane fines across the rest of the UK vary but are considerably cheaper, typically £60 reduced to £30 if paid within 14 days.

What happens if you get in a bus lane by mistake?

Driving in a bus lane fine on purpose or by mistake can get you a Penalty Charge Notice and you would have to pay.

Whether you get fined or not depends on whether the incident was caught on roadside CCTV.

Do you get points for driving in a bus lane?

You won’t be subject to penalty points on your license for mistakenly driving in a bus lane.

Therefore, you don’t need to worry about the contravention negatively affecting your vehicle insurance premiums.

Appeal excuses

Some excuses that could help you win a bus lane fine appeal are:

Roadside signage was unclear, damaged or hidden
You entered the bus lane to prevent a collision with another vehicle
Your car was stolen

There’s a certain process that is typically followed when appealing a ticket. Here’s a quick table to help you understand it as clearly as possible.

When	Action
On receiving a council PCN	Read the notice, keep it, gather evidence and note all payment and challenge deadlines.
Windscreen or handed-to-driver PCN	An informal challenge may be available before the Notice to Owner. Early challenge can preserve a discount under the authority’s policy; 14 days is not a universal final appeal deadline.
Postal PCN or Notice to Owner	Normally make formal representations within 28 days as stated on the notice. Do not assume there is an extra informal stage.
Representations rejected	The Notice of Rejection explains how to appeal to the appropriate independent tribunal, normally within 28 days.
Appeal unsuccessful	Pay by the deadline given in the decision or obtain advice on any available review. Further statutory charges can follow if you do neither.
Other ticket type	Private parking charges and FPNs use different procedures; follow the actual notice.

Further guidance: Traffic Penalty Tribunal; Citizens Advice.

Quick recap

The bus lane fine 20 metre rule is a rule that you can use a bus lane for 20 metres or less without getting fined.

But this isn’t true.

You cannot use a bus lane at all during hours when the bus lane is operational. Even if you mistakenly enter the bus lane briefly, you can be fined.

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References

SkyNews – Parking Tickets Statistics