Textbook turn costs motorist £100 fine

James Harper was caught on camera turning left out of a side road into Edgware Road.

He began in a bus lane - about 100 yards in front of a moving bus - and then pulled into the traffic on his right, again ensuring he had plenty of room and indicating before he did so.

According to the RAC Foundation, it was a "textbook example" of what driver should do.

But Barnet council fined him for driving his VW Golf more than 20 metres in a bus lane.

Mr Harper, 45, a chartered surveyor from Willesden Green, objected but his complaint was rejected and he now plans to appeal to an independent adjudicator.

He said: "This has caused me unnecessary stress, use of my time and expense, which does not seem fair or appropriate."

Edmund King of the RAC Foundation said: "This driver did what you are supposed to do. It was an almost perfect manoeuvre.

"He waited for a gap in the traffic, drove across the bus lane at an angle and merged with the flow, while indicating. As the pictures show, the bus was moving at a crawl so it wasn't inconvenienced. Neither were other vehicles.

"What was he meant to do? If he pulled out at a right angle and then suddenly turned left, so that he was crossing the bus lane for the shortest time possible, that may have been dangerous."

Mr King added: "CCTV can be a good thing but this is an example of where it hasn't worked. Camera operators need to use a degree of flexibility."

A Barnet spokesman said Mr Harper should have waited for both lanes to be clear before pulling out into the traffic lane, adding: "Private vehicles are not allowed in bus lanes. However, we will only issue a penalty charge notice if a driver has travelled for more than 20 metres in a bus lane."

Have you been fined for having to turn into a bus lane? Email letters@standard.co.uk