Driver fined £130 for pulling into bus lane to let ambulance pass
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A London driver was slapped with a £130 fine after pulling into a bus lane to let an ambulance pass.
James Sheridan-Vigor said he had been driving on Whipps Cross Road in Walthamstow when he ducked into a bus lane to let emergency services get by.
After Waltham Forest Council caught the manoeuvre on CCTV, James was handed a £130 fine - and was rejected when he initially tried to appeal.
When he appealed the fine, James was sent a letter from Waltham Forest Council to let him know that "under current legislation a vehicle must not drive, park or stop in a bus lane during its period of operation unless the signs indicate that a vehicle may do so."
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The letter added that emergency vehicles can use a bus lane when responding to an emergency, meaning that, by pulling into a bus lane, James would be 'more likely to obstruct their path than assist them.
The driver, obviously confused by the ruling, then took to social media to explain his situation and ask for advice.
"Even after I appealed they said they issued it correctly and that emergency vehicles have the right to use the bus lane so myself (and two other cars) 'would be more likely to obstruct their path than assist them' - which I totally understand," he said.
"However, when a bus is sat at a bus stop and an ambulance can’t magically drive through a bus, it has to overtake on the right.
"So what I’m getting from this is they’ve either made a mistake looking at the evidence. Or we’re not supposed to help out our emergency services and get out of their way."
James' post quickly caught people's attention, and soon it was flooded with comments from other shocked Londoners, MyLondon reports.
"That’s a disgrace" one comment read. "The bus lane is there for traffic flow, not to make money from decent members of the public. It’s perfectly clear you’re not using it to overtake traffic."
But another noted: "Afraid the law is that you are not allowed in bus lanes, stop in yellow box or cross red lights even for emergency vehicles - stupid law as you may have even help save someone’s life."
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As the pressure continued to build, a Waltham Forest Council eventually agreed to cancel the fine, admitting that it shouldn't have been issued.
The council also agreed that James was actually in the right, and confirmed that their policy states if an emergency vehicle is on call, and a driver pulls aside to make way, even in a bus lane, they won't get a ticket.
A spokesperson stated: "We have investigated this incident and this fine was issued in error.
"It has now been cancelled. We apologise for the mistake."
