Free Traffic Legal Advice

Hi FTLA team

Travelling West along the A27 in error, I took the slip road A270 Lewes Road as I needed to go East along the A27.  This enabled me to turn right along Stony Mere Way very briefly (under the A27) and then right again onto the slip road leading back on to the A27.

Having gone under the A27 and turning right, I kept to the left hand side not realising that it was a bus lane.  As soon as I realised that it was a bus lane, I looked in my mirror to see if it was safe to move into the right hand lane but there was a car there, so I couldn't.  This is captured on video.
 
I admit that I was in the bus lane but it seems unfair there was no advance notice of this until I was actually in the lane, so I wondered if this was grounds for challenge/appeal.

PNC




Maps
https://maps.app.goo.gl/RB6QSEbtQEK5q6ar5 (traffic lights at end of slip road off A27)
https://maps.app.goo.gl/gbP3x6snh2AUK7Cc9 (turning right onto Stony Mere Way going under A27)
https://maps.app.goo.gl/i73GfwRRuUN3byhe8 (traffic lights showing one lane, about to turn right)
https://maps.app.goo.gl/UawmXjAM4FsDrKhJA (turning right onto slip road from one lane into two, showing bus lane)

I also have a video illustrating the journey if needs be.

Thank you for any help or advice.
Mr H

To be fair, the council camera is positioned some distance along the bus lane, not at its start. There is a clear Bus Lane sign, (two in fact), yet you carried on in the bus lane for the whole distance seen in the video.

So whilst I agree, there should really be a sign at the right turn by the last set of traffic lights, an adjudicator could consider there to be sufficient signage. On the other hand, he could agree with you that not having and advance sign means they have not met their duties under LATOR Regulation 18, but it would not be a slam-dunk win in my opinion.

Hve a look at TSRGD (traffic signs regulations and directions) it would appear the lines just beyond the junction don't comply and despite there being a bus lane sign close to the junction a lot of drivers could easily miss it just after turning. But as Incandescent says, you had gone quite a distance long the bus lane. What distracted you?

I reckon it's worth a challenge.

Best if you submit a challenge based on no sign at the traffic lights indicating a bus lane. They will normally re-offer the discount if you submit within the discount period. Post-up their response when you get it.