Fewer motorists caught by bus gate camera
The number of people caught driving through the city centre bus gate fell by more than a half last year.
The camera patrolling the traffic lights in Northgate Street snapped 3,596 vehicles in the financial year 2008/9.
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bus gate camera
That is still a rate of nearly 10 a day, but there was a sharp fall from the 2007/8 year, when 7,362 were caught.
The figures have emerged after a Freedom of Information Act request by the Chronicle to Bath and North East Somerset Council.
The authority says it does not keep records specifying the number of fixed penalty notices which are later withdrawn.
It has in the past released figures for the income it has received in fines - even revealing totals for individual months.
But it now says the information is not recorded electronically and would take a member of staff four days to compile.
The fine for driving through the bus gate is £60, but this can be halved if the money is paid within two weeks.
In the year 2007/8, the council took £700,000 in fines and a report two years ago predicted the income for the 2008/9 year would be around £500,000.
The bus gate system, which allows only buses and taxis to drive all the way through the centre of Bath during peak hours, was introduced in 2001.
It operates between 10am and 6pm seven days a week and affects Northgate, New Bond Street and High Street.
In the past, there has been criticism of the size and positioning of signs warning people about the restriction.
B&NES councillor David Dixon (Lib Dem, Walcot), who has raised the issue in the past, said the situation had now improved.
"I think the better signage is why we have seen such a big decrease."
He said signs directing people around the city centre still needed to be improved.
But motorist Stan Kelley, 69, from Hertford, who was caught by the camera on New Year's Eve, said the bus gate signs were too small and too late.
The retired journalist had been driving into the city centre on his first visit to Bath for a celebration with friends at the time.
"I was following a bus and the signs are too late. You can't suddenly stop and reverse."
44 Comments
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by PETE, Bath
Thursday, February 25 2010, 1:34PM
“They state that they are only operational at "PEAK" hours! is 5.35pm on a sunday "PEAK" hours i think not but i am going to pay my fine just to avoid any hassle.”
by bubba, Bath
Wednesday, February 24 2010, 7:25PM
“I would suggest fail as he hasnt complied with road markings and signs but something tells me that he passed.”
by Tom Trosborg, Bath
Wednesday, February 24 2010, 5:52PM
“Just a thought: if your neighbour's teenage son were taking his driving test, and went through the bus gate during prohibited hours, should he be failed or passed?”
by Fishy, Bath
Wednesday, February 24 2010, 8:03AM
“The figures don't add up. £700,000 for 7,362 penalties is £95 each. And catching fewer than ten per day in 08/09 seems very low - you can see half-a-dozen slip through in ten minutes.”
by Dave F., (the real) Walcot
Wednesday, February 24 2010, 1:43AM
“To think that, because you admit to making mistakes means that I think I don't is really twisted logic.
What I wouldn't do though, is to email my local newspaper in an attempt to pass the blame when I do.
All road users should travel with due care & _attention_. By admitting you didn't see the sign proves you weren't paying attention & that is purely your fault.
Maybe you should reconsider your assertation that you're "a very good driver"”
by Ben, De Bus
Tuesday, February 23 2010, 11:30PM
“People who drive through bus gates deserve everything they get. Should also be banned for a few months. What other idiotic thing will they do next?”
by Bubba, bath
Tuesday, February 23 2010, 9:24PM
“Nicola, we're all human and all make mistakes. I think the point is, road signs are there for a reason and today too many people drive from A to B so frequently that many things are missed. I already asked that question in another story and no one answered but with any luck a few picked up their Highway Codes and had a read.
Its quite amazing to drive around and actually look at roadsigns and other things that you often miss as people are so tunnel visioned.
As a tourist to Bath or any other city for that reason, surely you should have 110% concentration as you don't know where you are going thus avoiding things like the bus gate.
It seems to me like Dave F is just a good driver, i don't know the man but he seems to be able to observe road signs and I think his last paragraph sums up my feelings massively.
Well said Dave.”
by Nicola, Bath
Tuesday, February 23 2010, 9:03PM
“Dave F
Going by what your'e saying you have never made a mistake and everyone who drive's through the bus gate should be banned from driving if, as you put it - they shouldn't be on the roads at all!”
by JM, Bath
Tuesday, February 23 2010, 6:30PM
“The bus gate and Pulteney Bridge are and always a joke and have never worked properly. But to pick up on Dan's original point, there is a problem which I think is causing a lot of the traffic that we see going around and around (usually Japanese or other tourists in hire cars). By chance I had to look for a route from Orange Grove to Blagdon and Googled for directions. It sent me down Westgate Street to turn left into Westgate Buildings! Can't remember exactly how many years that pavement has been there but it predates Google by decades!”
by Fishy, Bath
Tuesday, February 23 2010, 4:29PM
“And I dare say a few of those are well aware of the prohibition but unaware of the fine.”