Defining Britishness

[Martin Cassini]

On a Radio 4 programme about Britishness, our PM listed tolerance, liberty and fairness. On all counts, our traffic control system - with its rabid parking controls, inconsistent bus lanes, proliferating traffic lights, totalitarian congestion charge - represents the polar opposite. Harmless conduct is criminalised in a system based on lethal priority rules which defy commonsense, abandon human values, and are enforced without discretion, compromise or compunction.

[Martin Cassini]

Yes, you cite some classic examples of mean-spirited officialdom, and I suppose we all have similar bitter experiences which do nothing for the relationship between Them and Us. Don't have time now to list some of my own, except to say that a propos of the bus lane and the ambulance, when shooting In Your Car No-one Can Hear You Scream! (I wonder if you got your story from this?), I interviewed a gentleman who was involved in an identical sting. That's precisely what so much of this punitive regulation - which goes against the grain of British fair play, and wears a soulless smirk - amounts to: vile, revenue-led, cynical stings.

[Ian Perry]

I was issued with £60 fine by TfL when I pulled off a road in London into a designated “free” parking bay, shortly before 10am. Despite the fact I delayed no one and was stopped for a mere 8 seconds, TfL issued and collected a £60 fine.
Parking along “red routes” in London is free outside the times when you may not stop. Perhaps TfL subsidise the “free parking” in these bays to encourage motorists to stop, so that they can collect their fines. Motorists paying for the time they are legally parked should meet the cost of enforcing parking rationing, and not fines for motorists or public transport users.
I spent 18 months driving everyday in London but was like most, unable to get to grips with bus lanes that only operate at certain times of the day. Queue jumping frequently occurs because some drivers are aware that restrictions are not in operation, and use bus lanes to pass other vehicles. Drivers are expected to drive with due care and attention, whilst reading small text on signs and checking their watches to determine what restrictions apply at that time.
When a car driver moved partly into a bus lane to allow a speeding ambulance safe passage past him, he was caught by TfL on camera (along with the passing ambulance) and fined £100. TfL did not consider allowing an ambulance the opportunity to pass as reason to move into the empty bus lane.