ALMOST 23,0000 drivers were hit with bus lane fines last year when fewer buses were on the roads.

The 24-hour cameras keeping watch over ten city bus lanes penalised motorists 22,998 times between 7pm and 7am last year.

Drivers were charged more than £1.3m for venturing into the prohibited zones in off-peak hours, when fewer buses were running.

Around 68,000 fines were slapped on drivers in the 24-hour lanes in total, while a further 37,595 fines were issued by non-24 hour lanes.

The penalties, which equate to around one third of all fines from the 24 hour lanes issued in that time, have been blasted by opposition councillors.

Malcolm Balfour, SNP transport spokesman and former bus driver, said: "These figures show that motorists were right in their view that these cameras were penalising drivers unnecessarily.

"One in three tickets issued by 24 hour cameras in 2014 were for violations between 7pm and 7am, often when very few - or even no - buses were running.

"The fact that it has taken a year for the Council to recognise this is a scandal.

"That is why we, along with the Evening Times, have been campaigning for new regulations for bus lane cameras.

"The new 7am to 7pm rules and an amnesty on Christmas Day and New Year's Day have been secured.

"I hope that with these changes, the public will have a clear idea of when bus lanes are being enforced and that, in future, fewer drivers will be caught out by confusion."

The largest number of penalties given to drivers during 7pm and 7am were on Glassford Street , with 4,831 penalties slapped on unwitting drivers.

A camera at Argyle Street and Jamaica Street caught 4,489 drivers sneaking into the prohibited lanes during the same times.

Surveillance at Victoria Road/ St Andrew's Cross snagged drivers a staggering 3,080 times during the 12 hour night time period.

As reported in the Evening Times, Glasgow city council are planning to prohibit the bus lanes from 7am-7pm, and get rid of 24-hour lanes altogether.

The plans depend on the result of public consultation, which both Labour and SNP councillors have urged people to get involved in.

This year there will be an amnesty on fines being issued on Christmas and New Years Day.

Councillor Alistair Watson, Executive Member for Sustainability and Transport, said: "Driving in bus lanes has always been an offence for anyone but authorised vehicles.

"If a driver is found to be illegally driving in a bus lane a charge notice will be issued."

hannah.rodger@eveningtimes.co.uk