Bus lane — emergency / unavoidable (giving way to emergency vehicle)
Driving in a bus lane is permitted/mitigated where necessary to give way to a responding emergency vehicle, to avoid an accident, or in genuine emergency. Adjudicators routinely cancel where CCTV shows entry to clear a path for sirens or to avoid a collision.
Legal basis
Traffic Management Act 2004 s.144; Highway Code rules 219, 281; Bus Lane Contraventions (Penalty Charges, Adjudication and Enforcement) (England) Regulations 2005 (SI 2005/2757); Traffic Penalty Tribunal grounds of appeal
How to identify this in your case
Council CCTV (must be supplied with Notice of Rejection): emergency vehicle visible before/after entry, hazard ahead, sudden unsafe braking by another vehicle.
Sample appeal wording
Dear Sir/Madam, Re: Bus Lane PCN [NUMBER] — [LOCATION] — [DATE/TIME] I challenge this PCN. The circumstances do not constitute a contravention. At [TIME] on [DATE] I entered the bus lane briefly to: - Give way to a [police/ambulance/fire] vehicle approaching with sirens and blue lights, in compliance with Highway Code rule 219. - Avoid a collision with [vehicle/cyclist/pedestrian] who suddenly [action]. - Respond to a genuine emergency [describe]. CCTV will show: emergency vehicle visible at [time mark]; brief duration in lane [seconds]. Per TPT grounds of appeal, where the alleged contravention did not occur (lawful/excused entry), the PCN must be cancelled. Highway Code rule 219 is mandatory. Please cancel the PCN. Yours faithfully, [NAME]
Replace [PARKING DATE], [NtK DATE] etc. with your own dates before sending.
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Related appeal grounds
- Banned turn / no-entry — emergency or unavoidable manoeuvre
- Bereavement — Attending Funeral, Evidence Acceptable to Most Tribunals
- Bus lane — broken down / forced to enter to allow safe passage
- EV bay overstay — TRO max-stay vs reasonable charging time
- Financial Hardship — Request for Time to Pay or Payment Arrangement
- Force Majeure — Severe Weather, Road Closure Trapping Vehicle