One Glasgow bus lane caught 50,000 drivers in six months - TEN times the next most 'popular' lane.

 

According to Freedom of Information figures, a total of 49,716 motorists were issued with fixed penalty tickets between July and December last year for flouting restrictions in Nelson Mandela Place.

The next most 'productive' bus lane was in Victoria Road/St Andrew's Cross, where 4885 drivers were caught in the same period.

The Nelson Mandela lane was introduced on June 30 last year and the Evening Times revealed last September how 28,000 drivers were caught in the first nine weeks.

The official figures for the last six months of 2014 show; 16,284 tickets were issued in July, 14,573 in August, 5239 in September, 5198 in October, 4234 in November and 4186 in December.

In Victoria Road, 884 tickets were given out in July, 887 in August, 816 in September, 853 in October, 692 in November and 753 in December.

The Nelson Mandela lane has been criticised by drivers since its inception, with many claiming the warning signs were not clear enough.

The city council was forced to improve them following a flood of complaints from drivers.

Neil Greig, of the Institute for Advanced Motorists, said he believed the signage still wasn't clear enough and could account for the high figures.

He said: "These figures suggest there is still a real problem in that location with people's understanding of it.

"Glasgow City Council claimed the figures would fall off when people got used to it but these figures show it's still a high number."

Mr Greig said the council had made some improvements but he believes more are needed.

He added: "The bus gate looks like a normal part of the road network, that's the fundamental problem.

"It needs to be a different road surface so it's really obvious. The council needs to be constantly reviewing it to bring the figures down."

We also revealed last year how the city centre bus gate generated up to £600,000 for the council in just two weeks after 10,000 drivers strayed into the lane shortly after it was introduced.

Around 7000 drivers challenged tickets issued for the lane in its first three months.

Glasgow's bus lanes are currently being reviewed, with councillors recommending scrapping the 24-hour bus lanes and bringing in a 7am to 7pm restriction.