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| Bus lane cameras make £31m in a year for councils | Bus lane cameras make £31m in a year for councils |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Almost 4,000 motorists a day are fined for driving in bus lanes, with the most lucrative camera making £6,000 every 24 hours. | Almost 4,000 motorists a day are fined for driving in bus lanes, with the most lucrative camera making £6,000 every 24 hours. |
| BBC England contacted 160 authorities responsible for highways in England, 64 of whom had bus lane cameras. | BBC England contacted 160 authorities responsible for highways in England, 64 of whom had bus lane cameras. |
| Motoring organisation, the RAC, said the cameras had become a "cash bonanza" for local authorities. | Motoring organisation, the RAC, said the cameras had become a "cash bonanza" for local authorities. |
| Councils say cameras are clearly signed and they expect income to fall as drivers learn to stay out of the lanes. | |
| In total, the local authorities revealed an estimated combined income of £31m for 2015-16. The figure is likely to be higher as some councils were unable to break down figures by individual cameras or lanes. | In total, the local authorities revealed an estimated combined income of £31m for 2015-16. The figure is likely to be higher as some councils were unable to break down figures by individual cameras or lanes. |
| The most lucrative bus lane in England is on the northbound section of John Dobson Street in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. | The most lucrative bus lane in England is on the northbound section of John Dobson Street in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. |
| The council revealed that between 23 February and 31 October 2016 it resulted in 62,975 penalty charge notices, making a total of £1.5m, equivalent to £5,960 a day. | The council revealed that between 23 February and 31 October 2016 it resulted in 62,975 penalty charge notices, making a total of £1.5m, equivalent to £5,960 a day. |
| About 5,100 drivers caught in the first two months were then given refunds after it was found that signs were "inadequately lit" during the hours of darkness. | About 5,100 drivers caught in the first two months were then given refunds after it was found that signs were "inadequately lit" during the hours of darkness. |
| Drivers and opposition councillors have said the road layout is "confusing". | Drivers and opposition councillors have said the road layout is "confusing". |
| However, Newcastle City Council stressed bus lane cameras were not there to make money and the number of fines had dropped "dramatically" over the past year. | However, Newcastle City Council stressed bus lane cameras were not there to make money and the number of fines had dropped "dramatically" over the past year. |
| A spokeswoman said the bus lane was correctly signposted. | A spokeswoman said the bus lane was correctly signposted. |
| She said: "Each year, nine million bus passengers travel along John Dobson Street, where services have seen a 14 per cent improvement in journey time reliability since enforcement started. | She said: "Each year, nine million bus passengers travel along John Dobson Street, where services have seen a 14 per cent improvement in journey time reliability since enforcement started. |
| "We would firmly stress that bus lanes are not there to generate income - they are there to help us to manage our road networks efficiently." | "We would firmly stress that bus lanes are not there to generate income - they are there to help us to manage our road networks efficiently." |
| In Wolverhampton, a camera installed to stop people using a bus lane as a short cut was making on average £4,750 a day. | In Wolverhampton, a camera installed to stop people using a bus lane as a short cut was making on average £4,750 a day. |
| The council said people had been misusing the lane when coming in and out of the rail station but that it expected the number of fines to fall following a recent change in the road layout. | The council said people had been misusing the lane when coming in and out of the rail station but that it expected the number of fines to fall following a recent change in the road layout. |
| Get the data here | Get the data here |
| For more stories from the BBC England data unit visit our Pinterest board | For more stories from the BBC England data unit visit our Pinterest board |
| RAC spokesman Simon Williams said: "Bus lane cameras are fast becoming a new 'cash bonanza' for councils. The amount of money being raised by them in fines is frightening. | RAC spokesman Simon Williams said: "Bus lane cameras are fast becoming a new 'cash bonanza' for councils. The amount of money being raised by them in fines is frightening. |
| "Rather than just rubbing their hands together and taking the money councils should be asking questions as to why so many motorists are being caught driving in bus lanes." | "Rather than just rubbing their hands together and taking the money councils should be asking questions as to why so many motorists are being caught driving in bus lanes." |