Signs of confusion

Signs can create problems. Photo / Herald on Sunday

Motorists have copped millions of dollars in bus lane fines, but new signage to ease the pain is only causing more confusion.

Signs have gone up around Auckland aimed at showing clearly a point 50m from the end of a bus lane.

The Auckland City Council raked in $4.2 million in the past financial year from issuing $150 fines to motorists for driving more than 50m in a bus lane, often in preparation for making a left turn.

After a public outcry the city council put up the new signs to tell motorists how far away the next left turn is.

But some signs are positioned at the end of the bus lane, misleading motorists who actually are allowed to turn into the bus lane 50m before it ends.

Lawyer Steve Cullen, who specialises in traffic, said they were "the signs of confusion".

"It's absurd. The critical information is where the entry is permitted. What they should be indicating is where you're permitted to enter the bus lane from that point.

"It's a fairly elementary proposition to indicate to people where they're permitted to enter the lane. Put them in the position most beneficial to the drivers," said Cullen.

Auckland City Council transport committee chairman Ken Baguley said signage was a difficult issue. A report is due next week which he said should address problems.

Campaign for Better Transport member Joshua Arbury suggested the council should paint a line along the road every 10m so people can count for themselves where 50m is.

"If someone can count to five then they know when they have to get out of the lane."

He said the issue was complicated by people turning in and out of driveways, and too much signage may cause visual clutter. "If you have the lines on the road then you solve that problem."