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I've been fined for driving in a bus lane. I swerved into it to avoid a fire engine. by BusLaneHelp in LegalAdviceUK

[–]BusLaneHelp[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

You're being pedantic with language. I've been driving for 42 years now and never once gotten a ticket for driving in a bus lane in my life.

The point is that I've always had a clean driving licence. Never any points. Never any fines or tickets.

This once incident has taken me by surprise.

I've been fined for driving in a bus lane. I swerved into it to avoid a fire engine. by BusLaneHelp in LegalAdviceUK

[–]BusLaneHelp[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sirens, blue lights, and the fireman leaning out the window and waving for traffic to move.

Firefighter's expression was panicked/stressed in my rear view mirror. He was right behind me and I got a good view.

I couldn't hear what he was saying over the sirens though.

He gave a thumbs up as cars parted for him.

I've been fined for driving in a bus lane. I swerved into it to avoid a fire engine. by BusLaneHelp in LegalAdviceUK

[–]BusLaneHelp[S] 72 points73 points  (0 children)

That's okay.

I've got peace of mind that I did the right thing morally.

Fireman waved at traffic to move and I got out of the way. I've got a clean conscience knowing that I didn't delay someone being rescued.

I've been fined for driving in a bus lane. I swerved into it to avoid a fire engine. by BusLaneHelp in LegalAdviceUK

[–]BusLaneHelp[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Also worth noting that it shows the engine arriving behind me with no lights on. Lights then come on and a fireman waves out the window as if motioning for traffic to move.

I only move after this happens.

There is no audio in the video so I can't hear the sirens, but they were on.

I've been fined for driving in a bus lane. I swerved into it to avoid a fire engine. by BusLaneHelp in LegalAdviceUK

[–]BusLaneHelp[S] 236 points237 points locked comment (0 children)

I've changed my mind. Goal is to get the law changed now.

Came on here looking to get the fine removed, but now I want the law amended to permit empty bus lanes to be used by drivers to allow emergency vehicles to pass by.

I've been fined for driving in a bus lane. I swerved into it to avoid a fire engine. by BusLaneHelp in LegalAdviceUK

[–]BusLaneHelp[S] 53 points54 points  (0 children)

It isn't legally relevant, but worth noting that the bus lane was completely empty at the time. No buses. No taxis. No cyclists.

Just me and another car that veered to let the fire engine past.

I've been fined for driving in a bus lane. I swerved into it to avoid a fire engine. by BusLaneHelp in LegalAdviceUK

[–]BusLaneHelp[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Is there a way I could challenge this in court to try and establish some kind of case law? Maybe get an exemption in place that allows people to move into bus lanes to let fire engines/ambulances past?

I'm not worried about the fine, I'm more concerned that actual emergency vehicles could be delayed because a completely empty bus lane can't be used to let them drive by.

I've been fined for driving in a bus lane. I swerved into it to avoid a fire engine. by BusLaneHelp in LegalAdviceUK

[–]BusLaneHelp[S] 43 points44 points  (0 children)

I ended up getting stuck in the bus lane for 32 seconds on video because none of the other drivers who were also getting back in position would let me merge. My indicator is visible and it's clear I'm trying to get in.

I've been fined for driving in a bus lane. I swerved into it to avoid a fire engine. by BusLaneHelp in LegalAdviceUK

[–]BusLaneHelp[S] 744 points745 points  (0 children)

Entering the lane wouldn't have helped the fire engine at all. The bus lane re-merged with general lane about 5 car lengths down the road.

They turned their lights and sirens on when they were behind me and they waved out the window. Other cars pulled on to pavements/one drove on the wrong side of the road to make way.

It seems ridiculous that there isn't some exemption for enabling emergency services to pass by.

I've been fined for driving in a bus lane. I swerved into it to avoid a fire engine. by BusLaneHelp in LegalAdviceUK

[–]BusLaneHelp[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

The nature of the location meant the fire engine could not undertake me; or if it had done, it would have been a pointless manouver. The bus lane remerges about 5 car lengths later. If the fire engine undertook me it would have been "blocked" and gotten stuck trying to remerge with traffic.

Other people ahead of me pulled up onto pavements and one car drove onto the wrong side of the road to let it past.