Six thousand drivers were alerted to hotspots in the Huddersfield bus lane.

Motorists in Huddersfield town center are still being caught by the contentious bus gates implemented in 2016 to alleviate traffic congestion on crucial routes for buses. Although the number of offenders has decreased over time, thousands still receive fines annually. Critics argue that these bus gates discourage people from visiting the town center, labeling the initiative as merely a revenue-generating tactic. In the past year alone, Kirklees Council has issued 6,409 fines to drivers across seven bus lanes.

Data obtained by Personal Injury Claims UK indicates that Kirklees Council issued Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) amounting to at least £224,315, assuming drivers paid the minimum fine of £35. In the district, the standard fine for bus lane violations is £70, but it is reduced by half if paid within 21 days.

Between April 6, 2023, and April 5, 2024, Kirklees Council reported that 1,626 drivers failed to pay within the allotted time, likely resulting in the increased £70 fine. If this is accurate, the council would have collected £281,225 from bus lane fines alone in the last financial year.

The amounts collected from bus lane fines in recent years have significantly decreased compared to previous figures. In the first year of implementation, the bus gates accumulated fines totaling £951,000, while in 2019-20, it skyrocketed to £2,303,000.

Here are the worst hotspots for bus lane fines in 2023-24, along with the number of fines:

– High Street, Huddersfield: 245 fines
– Market Street, Huddersfield: 993 fines
– Market Street, junction with Westgate, Huddersfield: 872 fines
– Westgate, junction with Station Street, Huddersfield: 1,982 fines
– St George’s Square, Huddersfield: 2,309 fines
– Kirkgate, eastbound, Huddersfield: 6 fines
– Kirkgate, westbound, Huddersfield: 2 fines

When YorkshireLive reached out to Kirklees Council for comment on the latest figures, David Shepherd, Strategic Director for Growth & Regeneration, stated: “The bus gates in Huddersfield town centre have been in place for several years now and have been successful in restricting the movement of traffic through the town, keeping it safe for pedestrians and allowing our buses to run freely. The signs and markings comply with Department of Transport and the Traffic Parking Tribunal guidelines. In recent years, the number of fines has reduced as motorists are more aware of the bus gates and plan their journeys accordingly.”

Comparatively, some local authorities in Yorkshire have issued significantly more bus lane fines. Leeds Council handed out 10,593 fines over the same period, while Sheffield issued a staggering 118,953 bus lane fines. In Sheffield, the worst hotspot was Arundel Gate (northeast Bound) near St Paul’s Place Service Road, where 65,946 fines were given. Bradford issued 4,528 fines, and Doncaster issued 13,444 fines.