A nurse was hit with a fine after she moved out of the path of an oncoming ambulance into a bus lane. Gwen Bendall, from Derby, was driving home on Saturday, April 23, when she heard the ambulance approaching with its sirens on.
The ambulance was heading along Uttoxeter New Road towards the city centre, and Gwen explained she moved into the bus lane as she approached the nearby traffic lights, to clear the way for the emergency vehicle. Gwen was later fined £30 for this move, Derbyshire Live reported.
Gwen, who has been a nurse for more than 20 years and works at the Royal Derby Hospital, said: "I can remember it exactly, because I knew I did it. I did it for a reason and I knew why I had done it. It was going fast and had its blue lights on, so I didn't think.
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“I thought they would let me off as I thought it was so clear what I had done. But I was told that the ambulance should have gone in the bus lane.
“I know that usually but I could see what was ahead and there were five or six cars waiting to turn, so I thought if I moved left then the right lane was free and it could go charging into town.
“If I had stayed where I was both lanes would have been blocked. I thought I would be exempted as my priority was to let the ambulance past, especially with no buses coming.
“What you can't see from the camera is what was ahead of me and I could see all the cars blocking the way, so thought it made sense for me to clear my lane for the ambulance."
Gwen, who was in the car with her son, was travelling from her father's home in Hilton towards her home in the city centre and was caught near to the junction between the A516 Uttoxeter New Road and Rowditch Place, just a few metres from the end of the bus lane. The bus lane is next to a single lane of traffic.
She received the fine on April 28 and challenged it but was told on Wednesday, May 4, that the ambulance should have used the bus lane and gone around her. The 46-year-old added that, although the fine was reduced to £30 if she paid within 14 days, she felt the principle was wrong and that she would not hesitate to do the same again in future.
She said: "It just seems like a bit of a jobsworth who isn't taking anything into consideration. I think I made the most sensible decision and the process is very blinkered. It's almost like 'bus lane, that's it'."
"Everyone has said it's ridiculous. The ambulance wasn't making any attempt to go into the bus lane, it was obvious it wanted to go into town and could likely see what I could see. But the camera doesn't pick that up.
"I'd still do it again in the future. You'd let an ambulance past, wouldn't you? Or any emergency vehicle." Derby City Council were contacted for a comment on Wednesday, May 4. A council official then contacted Gwen to say the ticket had been waived, despite having earlier rejected her explanation.
In a statement, a spokesperson said: “The council cannot comment on individual cases. The footage for each case is reviewed individually and provides context for a civil enforcement officer to understand the circumstances the driver was faced with. Based on this review, the civil enforcement office will make a decision whether or not an infringement has occurred.
“Anyone who believes they shouldn’t have received a penalty charge notice can make an informal challenge in writing. Details of how to appeal are included with the penalty charge notice correspondence and on the council’s website. Emergency vehicles are exempt from traffic restrictions when wholly engaged in an emergency and drivers are informed of this in their driver training.”
