I accidentally drifted into the bus lane for about 10 seconds while turning near Piccadilly Circus last week. There were cameras everywhere and I'm paranoid about getting a penalty charge notice. How strict are they with bus lane violations in London?
I'd verify this directly with TfL or check your mail before stressing too much - a 10-second drift during a turn isn't usually what they're targeting, and they typically give some leeway for unavoidable lane changes. Bus lane fines in London are usually around £130 (reduced to £65 if you pay within 14 days), but they're generally stricter about sustained blocking rather than brief incursions, especially near complex junctions like Piccadilly where turning is unavoidable. If you haven't received a penalty charge notice by now in mid-July 2026, you're probably in the clear, since they usually issue them within a couple of weeks. That said, check your registered keeper details are correct with DVLA just in case something gets lost in the system.
I'd do what that person suggested - check TfL's official guidance rather than guessing, since enforcement thresholds vary by camera type and location. A brief drift during a turn is generally different from parking or lingering in the lane, so unless you get a notice in the mail over the next couple weeks, you're probably fine.
As mentioned above, TfL's pretty reasonable about enforcement and a quick 10-second drift while actively turning isn't usually what they're cracking down on 😅 The penalty's typically £130 (reduced to £65 if you pay within 14 days), but honestly your best move is just check your email and postbox over the next couple weeks - if nothing shows up after that, you're golden! The cameras are mostly there to catch people deliberately camping in bus lanes during rush hour, not catching people mid-maneuver, so I wouldn't stress too hard about it.
After 27 years of dealing with various situations, I've learned that short accidental drifts while actively turning don't usually trigger penalties - enforcement is typically aimed at people deliberately parking or stopping in bus lanes. That said, London's pretty strict overall and the fine is usually £130 if they do catch you, but honestly, if it was just 10 seconds during a turn, you'd most likely hear nothing. Check your mail over the next few weeks just to be sure, but I wouldn't lose sleep over this one.
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