Transport for London to fine motorists who drive in cycle lanes
Motorists caught crossing the white lines of mandatory cycle lanes and tracks will be fined from Monday, Transport for London has announced.
Under expanded enforcement powers, TfL and all London boroughs can begin issuing fines from 27 June using existing CCTV cameras, the operator said in a statement.
The changes are an attempt to improve safety for cyclists. More than half of people in the capital choose not to cycle because of concerns over road traffic, the statement said.
The new enforcement power is part of TfL’s Vision Zero commitment to eliminating death and serious injury on London’s roads.
Most cars are already banned from driving within or crossing the white lines of cycle lanes, a prohibition previously enforced only by the police. Only rental e-scooters in a trial area and pedal cycles can legally use cycle lanes in London.
“Protecting designated space for cyclists is essential in keeping them safe and improving confidence to cycle. We will start enforcing in key locations in London to deter drivers contravening the road rules,” said Siwan Hayward, TfL’s director of compliance, policing, operations and security.
The safety of cyclists on Britain’s roads is an enduring issue. The number of fatalities increased by 40% in 2020, official statistics showed. The death of lawyer Shatha Ali, 39, who was killed after a collision involving a lorry near Holborn station, cast renewed focus on cyclist’s safety on London’s roads especially.
Earlier this year, the Highway Code was updated, giving better protection to cyclists and pedestrians. The new guidance advised cyclists to ride in the centre of lanes on quieter roads, in slower-moving traffic and when approaching junctions, to make themselves as visible as possible.
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