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A driver was fined £130 after pulling into a bus lane to allow an ambulance to pass. James Sheridan-Vigor was issued the fine after momentarily pulling into the bus lane on Whipps Cross Road, Walthamstow on September 19.

Taking to Facebook, he asked how he can go about appealing the fine again as his initial appeal was rejected, MyLondon reports.

He wrote: “Even after I appealed they said they issued it correctly and that emergency vehicles have the right to use the bus lane so myself (and two other cars) ‘would be more likely to obstruct their path than assist them’ – which I totally understand. However, when a bus is sat at a bus stop and an ambulance can’t magically drive through a bus it has to overtake on the right.”

He added: “So what I’m getting from this is they’ve either made a mistake looking at the evidence. Or we’re not supposed to help out our emergency services and get out of their way.”

Others slammed the fine as a ‘disgrace’, with many saying that motorists should be able to make way for emergency services in a hurry without fear of a fine. One person said: “That’s a disgrace. The bus lane is there for traffic flow, not to make money from decent members of the public. It’s perfectly clear you’re not using it to overtake traffic.”

Another commented: “Afraid the law is that you are not allowed in bus lanes, stop in yellow box or cross red lights even for emergency vehicles – stupid law as you may have even helped save someone’s life.”

After appealing the fine, James received a letter that said: “Under current legislation, a vehicle must not drive, park or stop in a bus lane during its period of operation unless the signs indicate that a vehicle may do so. I must advise that emergency vehicles may use the bus lane when responding to an emergency and therefore entering a bus lane when dealing with an emergency vehicle would be more likely to obstruct their path than assist them.”

The letter added: “A motorist must not put themselves in contravention of the law when dealing with an emergency vehicle unless directed to by an on-duty police officer.”

Despite already appealing, it was only after Waltham Forest Council was contacted by MyLondon that that fine was said to be a mistake and was cancelled. A spokesperson for the council said: “We have investigated this incident and this fine was issued in error. It has now been cancelled. We apologise for the mistake.”

However, James was not the only driver to say he had been given a fine for pulling into the bus lane on this exact road to allow emergency services to pass. One person wrote: “This happened to me, same place. Lost appeal! Basically bus lane is a no go … we allow the ambulance space to undertake into the bus lane or overtake us. I even asked Stella to have a look at the PCN as felt it was unjustified – still had to pay it.”

The council confirmed to MyLondon that the policy states that if an emergency vehicle is on a call, such as showing flashing lights and using its siren, and a driver pulls aside to make way, they will not get a ticket – even if it is in a bus lane. However, if the ambulance is not on call, then drivers can get a ticket if they pull into a bus lane to allow it to pass.

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