Driver who complained about lack of bus lane signs wins appeal over fine

David Evans, 53 of Stowheath Lane, Wolverhampton, was caught in the bus lane on Willenhall Road on September 12. But the notice has now been cancelled after Mr Evans appealed. Drivers caught driving in a bus lane are issued with a £60 fine.

The official traffic penalty adjudicator Joanne Richards said that lack of signage in the area was one of the reasons she made her decision.

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She said: "Willenhall Road is a long, straight-ish arterial road. It is a site where it should be relatively straightforward for the council to establish, sign and enforce a bus lane.

"Mr Evans has made a comprehensive and well-argued appeal on many grounds.

"Nonetheless, I would urge the council to take Mr Evans' review of the signage at and on various approaches to this restriction extremely seriously."

Mr Evans, who uses the Willenhall Road every day to get to work at a funeral directors in Horseley Fields, is pleased at the result.

"It all started because I noticed on the penalty charge notice that the council had said the area I was caught was in Bilston, which was inaccurate. I thought to myself, if they can get that wrong, what else have they got wrong?"

Appealing the decision, Mr Evans said he believed the bus lane itself was actually not lawful as the documentation the council provided was not dated. He said the signage was unclear.

"If the council can't properly establish a bus lane then how can we drivers contravene it?" Mr Evans added.

A spokesman for Wolverhampton council said: "While we won't be commenting on this individual case, a penalty charge notice for driving in a marked bus lane is only given where there is clear photographic evidence of the offence and this evidence is provided to the registered owner of the vehicle. We get very few appeals for this reason."