Revealed: Bus lane snares 100,000 drivers making £2.5m in fines
More than £2.5 million has been brought in from a single bus lane in West Bromwich where nearly 100,000 drivers have been hit with fines.
Around 94,000 drivers have been caught in New Street, close to Central Sixth and New Square shopping centre, since the cameras were installed nearly three years ago.
In the eight months between the start of February and the end of September this year, 9,603 tickets have been issued.
A total of £680,986.06 has been paid in fines.
Since the cameras were installed in November 2016, a total of 93,738 fines have been issued with £2,538,899.84 paid out in fines.
A spokesman for Sandwell Council said: "The bus gate in West Bromwich town centre is important because it prevents congestion at the bus station and improves the safety of shoppers and students at the college as they walk through the town square area.
“The number of vehicles driving illegally through the bus gate continues to fall but there are still significant numbers of people who drive through the town square area, despite the large warning signs.
"This spoils the investment that has been made in providing the safe pedestrian environment in a town square surrounded by the college, restaurants with outside seating and the pedestrian entrance to New Square shopping centre.
“We would much rather drivers follow the rules but if they drive through the bus gate, they should expect to receive a fine.
“Money received from fines contributes to the costs of providing highway services and improvement projects."
