Full listing of prime councils raking it in as drivers hit with £130m in bus lane fines

Councils name it enforcement and drivers name it confusion, however what stings is the second you realise the digital camera already determined earlier than you probably did.

Bus lane cameras are sometimes complicated (Picture: PAUL GILLIS / Attain PLC)

Drivers have been hit with £130m in bus lane fines in simply three years with greater than three million penalties issued by the nation’s largest councils. The fines imply a money bonanza for native authorities of £103m, typically paid by motorists who’ve been left confused by difficult signage while navigating unfamiliar routes.

Freedom of Data (FOI) information obtained from councils reveals that 3,021,688 bus lane Penalty Cost Notices (PCNs) have been issued between January 2023 and December 2025, producing £103,811,873 in income. That is roughly 2,760 fines every single day, or one bus lane penalty issued each 30 seconds. The analysis, complied by on-line automobile retailer cinch, analysed information from England’s 38 largest native authorities by inhabitants and confirmed that in 2023 1,077,635 bus lane fines have been issued, while that quantity rose to 1,208,766 in 2024 and at the moment stands at 735,287 for 2025 with some funds and case outcomes nonetheless being processed.

Marsh Lane in Barton Hill Bristol (Picture: PAUL GILLIS / Attain PLC)

UK’s Bus Lane Nice Hotspots

Manchester topped the desk for many bus lane fines by far, issuing practically 230,000 extra PCNs than second-placed Bristol.

Highest variety of bus lane PCNs (2023-2025):

Manchester Metropolis Council – 573,822

Bristol Metropolis Council – 344,366

Sheffield Metropolis Council – 275,360

Brighton and Hove Metropolis Council – 253,503

Birmingham Metropolis Council – 218,906

Bus Lane Enforcement Hotspots

Bus lane fines are sometimes targeting a number of foremost streets in metropolis centres, with Bridge Avenue in Manchester standing out as probably the most prolific.

Streets with probably the most bus lane fines (2023-2025):

Bridge Avenue (towards Salford), Manchester – 157,974 PCNs

Arundel Gate close to St Paul’s Place Service Highway, Sheffield – 116,264 PCNs

Cumberland Highway bus gate, Bristol – 81,115 PCNs

Ranelagh Avenue bus gate, Liverpool – 71,012 PCNs

York Place, Brighton – 54,931 PCNs

These 5 roads alone accounted for over 480,000 fines between them. All sit in busy metropolis centres with restricted hours, complicated layouts or bus gates which are simple to overlook in the event you don’t know the world.

DescriptionCorporation Avenue Derby Bus Lanes (Picture: Derby Telegraph)

1 in 11 bus lane PCNs challenged by drivers

The information additionally highlights that greater than 280,000 drivers appealed their bus lane fines between 2023 and 2025 – figuring out as roughly one dispute for each 11 fines.

Of these appeals, 31% (or 87,713 penalties) have been upheld after overview.

“Decelerate because the bus lane ends and solely flip in as soon as the arrow on the street signifies you are able to do so.

“Should you suppose you’ve been caught unfairly by a digital camera, it is likely to be value interesting – particularly if the signage was blocked or the street markings pale.”