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London traffic camera's £2m fines in three months
Felix Allen26 Jul 2010
More than 16,000 drivers have been caught in three months by Britain's most lucrative traffic camera.
Almost £2 million in fines have been issued to motorists who take a wrong turn at a temporary diversion at roadworks near Victoria station.
But drivers and motoring groups say the number of signs is confusing and the fines unfair. Motorists are sent £120 penalties after they are filmed straying into what is now a temporary bus and taxi lane in Wilton Road.
It was formerly part of the ring road through Victoria but since March traffic has been diverted via Bridge Place and Buckingham Palace Road.
Large signs are in place to warn drivers, but so far 16,123 have been caught going the wrong way. Transport for London issued penalties worth more than £1.9 million between late March and late June — a rate of £150,000 a week — although the fine is reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days.
Layiwola Bella, 77, was one of a dozen drivers that the Standard watched mistakenly driving up Wilton Road in just one hour yesterday. Mr Bella, from Shepherd's Bush, said: “It's very confusing.”
Other drivers were seen swerving at the last minute to avoid the bus lane or doing illegal U-turns in the one-way street after realising their error.
Alison Cain, 50, from Notting Hill, said: “It's incredibly confusing the first few times you drive this way because there are so many different signs and you only have a split second to decide what to do. You come round the corner and think, Oh my God, what do I do now?' ”
Paul Pearson, of campaign group PenaltyChargeNotice.co.uk, said TfL's website recommended the route past Victoria station as a way of avoiding the congestion charge, adding: “TfL is milking confused motorists for every penny. Motorists who followed the map and have received a fine should appeal.”
TfL said it had “made significant efforts to inform motorists of the closure of Wilton Road”, adding: “Around 99 per cent of motorists are following the diversion with only a small minority choosing to ignore the signs and road markings.”
Reader views (36)
My heart bleeds for you.
It must be so confusing for the poor hard done by motorist to have all these conflicting signs around -- look, two of them say "No motor vehicles, except buses and taxis", while the other says the completely different "Road closed, except buses and taxis". Meanwhile, the road itself is sending out an entirely different message again, with that solid white line and the words "Buses and taxis only". How is the poor cretinous motorist supposed to work out what these complicated signs mean? And it's just not cricket, putting the multiple large "enforcement camera ahead" signs in places of such limited visibility.
Christ. If you insist on driving through the city, can you at least grow up and start accepting some of your responsibilities?
- Joe D, London, 27/07/2010 13:22
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@ Andrew
It's not the Socialists who got into power in 1997, it's the Labour party that was elected. New Labour may be a left-wing party and may be part of the Socialist group in the European Parliament but it's not the British Socialist Party.
And by the way what party was running the country when the UK needed aid from the IMF ? I don't think it was the Labour party...
- Melissa, London, 26/07/2010 22:28
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The signs are confusing. Someone who is unfamiliar with the area is forced to read them all, then figure out which lane it refers to, & make a decision within seconds when you probably have other drivers pushing you from behind. You would think those high paid city workers could have set this up better.... OR is it just a tax trap for a cash strapped government as some have intimated.
- Denise Thompson, Tustin, USA, 26/07/2010 21:38
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when i first approached this changed junction a few months ago I had no problem understanding it. when i took my driving test many years ago my instructor said to always watch the road signs. maybe the guilty drivers are the same ones who never give way to pedestrians at zebra crossings, ignore banned right turns and never let buses go first
- John, London, 26/07/2010 19:31
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These fines are wrong and as one man said the law is if so many fines are being issued then they should be investigating the matter. For those who don't know London it is a nightmare of twisting roads that seem to contra flow all over the place.
If the British form of Democracy was working it would be handled immediately. But our British Democracy isnt working.
We seriously need to look at the Swiss canton idea. In the Canton idea you get to vote on tax increases going to war and probaly selling our Gold. So Switzerland is not a member of the EU and does very well. Niether is Norway and it is doing very well.
What use is it if we change a Government but they continue with the same policies on the much hated and corrupt EU. Now we will have a EU police force something denied many times by former Governments.
This idea of voting in a Government every five years. Once every five years they start listening, kissing babies and pretend they are listening. Our democracy is clearly not working.
If one has ever watched PM Questions on Wednesdays it would have been seen the Blair nor Brown answered any questions put to them. In other words parliament cant hold these men to account.
David Milliband let a scowl of form on his face when a referendum on the EU treaty was mentioned. Now our only other option Cameron drops his promise of a referendum when he knows that 75% + of the British people are unhappy.
- Jas, Camberley UK, 26/07/2010 18:14
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Andrew in Israel.
Your government doesn't have to rip off it's citizens. Because the US bankroles Israel to the tune of $50,000 per Israeli, per year.
- RC, London, UK, 26/07/2010 17:16
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For those not aware: Andrew in Tel Aviv is one of a small army of apologists for Israel who clutter news sites in the UK and elsewhere (possibly paid by the Israeli Govt?) . This is a very good example: article about traffic fines in London and up he pops to tell us "this wouldn't happen in Israel - land of the free" (unless you are Palestinian of course). Best laughed at - they don't understand humour and tend to vanish.
- TJ, London, 26/07/2010 16:49
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There's a simple answer to fine farming.
A law that says if motorists are repeatedly incurring a fine for the same offence, the local authority is compelled by law to ensure that it finds out why it is happening and then moves to dramatical reduce the numbers of fines it is handing out.
Simply sitting back and pocketing the money while a significant number of drivers make the same mistake should be illegal.
- J H Holloway, London, 26/07/2010 16:41
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There's a simple answer to fine farming.
A law that says if motorists are repeatedly incurring a fine for the same offence, the local authority is compelled by law to ensure that it finds out why it is happening and then moves to dramatical reduce the numbers of fines it is handing out.
Simply sitting back and pocketing the money while a significant number of drivers make the same mistake should be illegal.
- J H Holloway, London, 26/07/2010 16:40
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Just read the comments. Now this eighty year old is really confused. Did not know this traffic camera is in Israel. Is that in their own county, or in one of the strips of other countries, where they are building Settlements?
- Alan., England., 26/07/2010 16:13
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Just imagine how bankrupt the country would be if they only took our money by LEGITIMATE means!!!
- Simon, London, 26/07/2010 16:05
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The 'Tax cameras' have nothing to do with road safety as everybody surely knows, but they collect money more efficiently than the Inland Revenue.
- nigel, Southampton, England, 26/07/2010 16:01
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I know nothing about this particular area but I can say the standard of driving is utterly dreadful. Everyday the 406 and M25 are closed due to accidents. Driving on the 406 is utterly shocking with motorist zig zagging from lane to lane at high speed usually with a mobile phone clamped to their ears driving one handed, just to gain a few yards.
Sunday I had to look up travel news.Seven roads were closed due to accidents. Reports of lorries overturned were countless. How does one over turn a lorry? Now we hear the government is to turn off speed cameras. A political gesture, that cannot even be justified as spending cuts, as most cameras are self supporting. Indeed they make a profit. I have seen motorists make u-turns round traffic lights. Three point turns in main roads on pedestrian crossing. Just now a jeep rushed up this narrow suburban road, with parked cars on each side of the road, at at least sixty miles an hour. The speed limit should be reduced to twenty miles per hour in towns, and thirty on main roads with perhaps forty miles per hour on motor-ways. But not the M25 which is a death trap.
- Alan., England., 26/07/2010 15:52
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Wow funny how the ripping off of motorists turns into a Israel/palestine debate ? but i totally agree with Andrew in Tel Aviv , we as brits really do get screwed by ANY goverment body we elect . I was fined £100 for dropping off a friend at hampstead train station , took all of 5 seconds !why ? well it was dark and raining heavily , didn't spot the zig zag lines at the end of southend road with camera perched and focused on that spot for the sole reason of making more money ! i appealed and lost , 5 seconds= £100 .
- Rory, london, 26/07/2010 15:30
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Dear John Smith of London, I have absolutely no idea where you get your idea of hatred from in my reply comment. Andrew does not live in this country and to suggest that we in the UK are bankrupt, along with his later diatribe, is indicative of his hatred of the UK. Put the government in jail, he says! They have only just been elected for goodness sake, I suspect that it is Andrew who is ignorant, and please do not be so presumptuous to apologise on the UK's behalf.
I am merely stating fact that the Israeli Government (ergo not necessarily its people) has a total and absolute moral disregard to the people of Palestine. That is not hatred, in fact I feeling nothing for the Israelis!
- Dave, London & Surrey, 26/07/2010 14:56
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"Alison Cain, 50, from Notting Hill, said: “It's incredibly confusing the first few times you drive this way because there are so many different signs and you only have a split second to decide what to do. You come round the corner and think, Oh my God, what do I do now?' ”"
Now that is an absolute classic. Alison may as well have said: "I need to re-sit my driving test"
Side note: The idea that motoring groups could be impartial on this is about as believable as the pro-smoking lobby having an objective opinion on cigarette labelling.
- Kieran, London, UK, 26/07/2010 14:54
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@ Dave, London
British government is against its own people, and does everything it can to make life very hard for the good people of the country, including ripping off motorists to the tune of hundreds of millions of Pounds.
Our government is FOR our people, making this country a very safe, family-orientated place to live, where you are rewarded for being a decent person and not living in fear of being robbed by the government.
In terms of debt, Israel's economy has been the subject of intrigue worldwide, we had no credit crunch, no recession and very clever banking systems - all of this WITHOUT the government finding ways to be nasty to us. Its an expensive country but a well organised one.
Remember, I am on the side of the British people - I abhor how they have been treated since 1997 and want to see a restoration of common sense in the government, therefore there was no need for the usual anti-semitic reaction whatsoever. However, if it is of any benefit to you, you are also incorrect about any so-called "treatment" of people living in PA-controlled areas.
- Andrew, Tel Aviv, Israel, 26/07/2010 14:29
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I wonder what the odds are that many of the people going down the bus lane are numpties following every single step that their Sat-Nav gives them, with no consideration of actual signage on the road...
- Mark L, Vauxhall, 26/07/2010 14:11
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@ Dave, London & Surrey, 26/07/2010
Couldnt have said it better myself.....apologies not needed on your behalf!!
- ishi, london, 26/07/2010 14:09
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I apologise to the Israeli commenter for the ignorance and hatred of Dave from London
- John Smith, London, 26/07/2010 13:50
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Dear Andrew - Tel Aviv. Our country is neither financially nor morally bankrupt, its has debt like any other country and most people. We are paying back that debt as due, what is your country doing about its moral bankruptcy and of its treatment of the Palistinians. Take more interest in your own country and stop meddling in our affairs.
Oh, and I suspect that most of the drivers going down this wrong lane daon't care about the fine, as long as they get where they need to go quicker, they'd be happy to fork out the £60, I know that I would!
- Dave, London & Surrey, 26/07/2010 13:37
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Ooooh! May I buy one, please?
- Ted, Orkney Isles, 26/07/2010 13:37
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Bob, the signage may look clear to you in the picture, but this site is a nightmare. There is a sharp 90 degree hook in the road just before the turn pictured, so a motorist has less than a split second to read about 5 signs. Those who have used the route routinely for years may unfortunately just sail through, because there is no obvious reason why the road should be blocked. Those who have never used the road before may pass through in confusion before the penny drops. Also there are lanes merging from two directions, so it can be very dangerous to suddenly change lanes.
- Bloke, Lambeth, 26/07/2010 13:32
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Love it! The signage and road markings look perfectly clear to Me! It's the dozy idiots behind the wheel that are too busy chatting or using their mobile phones. Pay attention and you wont get fined. I've no sympathy for these idiots
- Bob, Enfield, 26/07/2010 12:48
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TFL = Thieves OF London. no other way to describe this despicable organisation who never fail to find ways of relieving motorists of there hard earned cash.
All around our city streets there is evidence of the extremes they go to to keep those traffic fines rolling in. Unfortunately there is no one out there to stop them from taking advantage of us, the councils are no use, they want a peice of us too, the mayor is too busy to bother about car drivers and the regulators stopped regulating years ago.
- Colin, London, 26/07/2010 12:25
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This is the cost of using private contractors for public works. Our politicians have let them get away with it for years. Companies (e.g. NCP in Camden, Capita for TFL) who run the C-charge, parking, cameras, traffic wardens etc. for local authorities are only interested in making money.
They don't give a rat's behind about service either. For example, what do we get for the £90 a year cost of residents' parking? Increased vigilance from police against car crime? No. Better roads? No. More traffic wardens and cameras? Yes.
But they'll probably be praised for being a well performing recession-proof industry. Like clampers, it's easy when you have the law on your side and you can waste even more tax payers money on court fees and bailiffs chasing drivers for a £120 fine.
- mike stern, london, 26/07/2010 12:21
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If only 1% of drivers (according to TFL) do not understand the signs and go the 'wrong way', it shows that TFL's signage is seriously wrong. These drivers are not deliberately ignoring the signs - they are confused by the huge volume of information they must read whilst driving. It's a shame that TFL don't think about providing a quality service rather than frightening the public!
- tony, london, 26/07/2010 12:11
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That is my point, Melissa. Despite the Quangos in the UK stealing all of YOUR money by illegitimate means, which runs into millions and millions of Pounds, the country is still bankrupt. The even more confusing thing is that the country was in great fincancial shape before the socialists got into power, yet motorists and normal, harmless people were able to get on with their daily taks unhindered. Labour came to power and suddenly everyone is being extorted by government-employed criminals to the tune of hundreds of million, yet the country is bankrupt. It is no different to a South American dictatorship and really I dont know why you British citizens put up with it. Where has all that money gone? Put these people in prison and let everyone get on with their life without being scared to go outside incase they are robbed by a faceless government department for just going to the shops or doing the school run.
- Andrew, Tel Aviv, Israel, 26/07/2010 12:01
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On the picture that illustrates the article the signs don't look confusing. Never mind, Rekjavik-on-Thames needs money so thank you drivers, carry on... provided that you don't crash into a bus!!!
- Melissa, London, 26/07/2010 11:49
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I'm against any cash-camera, but to be fair to TfL, this new road layout must be the most signposted in the UK. There are illuminated warning matrices, big yellow diversion signs, huge red warning signs, several camera signs, red and white barriers, red bus lane tarmac with BUS & TAXI ONLY written in white, no entry signs, no motor vehicle signs, even a policeman now and then parked on the road nearby. If you miss all that and still drive up there, you shouldn't be on the road. Interestingly, the few drivers I've seen straying up there were all on the phone - what does that say?
- Steve, London, UK, 26/07/2010 11:47
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As Usual TFL assume everybody is a criminal. “Around 99 per cent of motorists are following the diversion with only a small minority CHOOSING to ignore the signs and road markings.” Choosing to ignore the confusing markings that TFL's own website tell you don't exist.
TFL and all councils are the biggest rackets in this country, there worse than all the gangs in the estates.
- Michael, London, 26/07/2010 11:45
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How many times have we sat in traffic jams because of road works only to find nobody working and equipment idle? With the extortionate amounts they steal from drivers they should be able to put hundreds of crews on day and night to repair our roads.
Also, three months to repair what exactly??? And though the less enlightened might think fining drivers is the answer to everything, think about where that money's going to because it's not being used where it should.
And confusing road signs can lead to accidents, possibly fatal ones. Does someone have to die first before Wilton Road is signposted properly?
- Ian Kemp, London, 26/07/2010 11:42
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it's not confusing, it's just sheer bloody frustration at yet another diversion to a part of london that you don't want to go to... most of the ffines are due to people thinking they're 'cleverer' than the rest of the mugs taking the detour. it's only once the fine comes through that the excuses start... trust me, it's better to bike... unless the bike thieves target you like they did me last week... B*$*ARDS!
- mazza, london, 26/07/2010 11:31
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TFL = Thieves OF London. no other way to describe this despicable organisation who never fail to find ways of relieving motorists of there hard earned cash.
All around our city streets there is evidence of the extremes they go to to keep those traffic fines rolling in. Unfortunately there is no one out there to stop them from taking advantage of us, the councils are no use, they want a peice of us too, the mayor is too busy to bother about car drivers and the regulators stopped regulating years ago.
- Mr S.Port, London, 26/07/2010 11:15
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The UK really is uninhabitable. All of these methods of making everyone's everyday life so unpleasant by extorting huge amounts of money from people while they go about their daily tasks, and making people live in fear of revenue-earning cameras everywhere, yet the country is still bankrupt! The criminals who run the UK should be in prison.
- Andrew, Tel Aviv, Israel, 26/07/2010 11:14
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Well for thats the road repairs paid !!!
- Joe, London, 26/07/2010 11:04
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