A driving instructor has shared a crucial tip for motorists about UK bus lane rules, revealing the one occasion when drivers should be using a bus lane regardless of their vehicle type. Annie Winterburn, an Official Register of Driving Instructor Training trainer, explained that outside operational hours, drivers are expected to use bus lanes to keep traffic moving.
Bus Lane Regulations and Penalties
Bus lanes are dedicated sections of carriageway restricted to specific vehicles, with substantial penalties for those who flout the rules. Data from a Cinch Freedom of Information request to England's 38 largest local authorities revealed 3,021,688 bus lane Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) were handed out between January 2023 and December 2025, raising £103,811,873 in revenue. That equates to approximately 2,760 fines daily, or one bus lane penalty issued every 30 seconds.
Annie Winterburn's Guidance
Winterburn frequently uses social media to offer guidance for new and learner motorists, and she has now examined the correct approach to navigating these designated lanes. Speaking on TikTok, she displayed an image of a bus lane sign and questioned whether motorists should be travelling in it.
She explained: "It's Sunday at 3pm so this is a withflow bus lane sign, you know that because there's no arrows on the sign, but it's a bus lane only Monday to Friday, not Saturday, not Sunday, and in fact it's only a bus lane at 4pm until 7pm on Monday to Friday."
"That means at other times it's not a lane only for buses and we should be driving in that lane. In fact, if you're not driving in lane one, that means you're staying in lane two. You're staying in the overtaking lane, which is what you shouldn't be doing, you should drive in lane one unless you're overtaking."
She informed followers that the signage indicated it was exclusively for buses during specific periods, adding: "If there were no sign telling you days and times, that would mean it would be a bus lane all the time. You could never drive in it. But the days and times are telling you when it's a bus lane. Other times, we should be driving in it."
RAC Advice
The RAC also offered guidance for drivers on the matter. It stated: "Bus lanes are clearly marked by dashed white lines or a solid white line. The solid white lines mark out the edge of the bus lane and should not be crossed while it's in operation. The dashed white lines signify the beginning and end of the lanes, as well as points where it's acceptable for vehicles to cross into it - for example to reach a loading bay or to turn left. They will also have the words 'bus lane' frequently marked along the road."
It continued: "If you're driving outside a bus lane's operational hours, then you can use it as long as it's safe to do so. This will help ease traffic congestion, freeing up another lane for other vehicles. Be aware that not using a bus lane when it's safe to do so during your driving test could result in a marking down, so it's worth being aware of when they aren't in operation. The bus lane's blue sign will also show which other road users are permitted to use it."
