Ealing Times - 16/10/2003
FURIOUS motorists are refusing to pay £100 fines for crossing into a bus lane after branding the road layout dangerous.
Hundreds of residents have received the hefty penalty charges from Ealing Council after being caught on camera driving in the Yeading Lane bus lane at the junction with Kingshill Avenue, on the border of Ealing and Hillingdon.
Drivers, many of who are parents taking their children to school, insist they are forced into breaking the law to avoid having an accident – but end up getting photographed and fined.
Sarah Moseley, from Raleigh Avenue, Hayes, told the Times: " I've nearly crashed three times trying to turn left. It is so dangerous.
"It is a money-spinner."
The bus lane camera, installed by Ealing Council last month, snaps offending motorists as they turn left into Kingshill Avenue. Drivers wanting to take the left turn are directed into the bus lane by arrows on the road – but if they stray into the red route even a foot before the arrows begin they get fined.
Motorists say they have to make the turn before the arrows begin otherwise the manoeuvre is just too sharp to make.
Parents dropping their children off at Belmore Primary School in Owen Road, just off Kingshill Avenue, are fuming after many of them were fined.
One mother received eight fines in a matter of weeks.
Ealing councillor Glenn Murphy has been spearheading a campaign for the removal of bus lanes in Northolt and Hayes. The Tory said the routes have caused nothing but misery and congestion to hundreds of residents.
Cllr Murphy added: "It has just been chaos and mayhem and I don't blame the motorists for not paying. It's ridiculous. Many of these people are receiving enforcements for turning into their road.
"I have never known so many complaints about one issue but this is a serious safety issue. It is a complete nightmare which just doesn't make sense."
Parents have now started a petition against the bus lane and already have 200 people signed up.
A spokesman for Ealing Council, which has authority over the bus lane, said: "We take comments and complaints from residents very seriously and every person that writes in to contest a fine can be assured that their case will be reviewed. We hold video footage of every incident and are happy to take a second look at a tape if people believe they are not in the wrong."
He added: "However, I can state without exception, every fine we have upheld since the bus lane was introduced has involved a vehicle clearly breaking the law by driving for some distance into the bus lane.
Cash generated by bus lane fines is invested back into transport.[Yeah - usually more anti-car measures]
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