London traffic camera's £2m fines in three months

Felix Allen12 April 2012

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."

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