Motorists across England have been penalised for breaking major Highway Code rules, with offences committed every 30 seconds according to new data.
Research found that between January 2023 and December 2025, the 38 largest local authorities by population handed out more than three million penalty charge notices to drivers caught travelling in bus lanes, bringing in £103.8million.
The figures, obtained through a Freedom of Information request, showed approximately 2,760 drivers received fines daily throughout the three years.
Annual breakdowns indicate enforcement peaked in 2024, when councils issued 1.2 million penalties compared to just over one million in 2023. The 2025 total currently stands at 735,287, although some cases remain under review.
Manchester City Council issued by far the highest number of bus lane penalties during this period, with 573,822 fines recorded across the three years.
Bristol came second with 344,366 penalty notices, while Sheffield City Council ranked third, issuing 275,360 fines to motorists caught using restricted lanes.
Brighton and Hove followed closely behind with 253,503 penalties, while Birmingham rounded out the top five with 218,906 notices served.
The concentration of fines in these five authorities reflected both the density of bus lane networks in major urban centres and tougher enforcement through more camera systems now operating in city centres across England.
Reports revealed drivers were fined every 30 seconds for driving in a bus lane
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Rule 141 of the Highway Code states: "These are shown by road markings and signs that indicate which (if any) other vehicles are permitted to use the bus lane.
"Unless otherwise indicated, you should not drive in a bus lane during its period of operation. You may enter a bus lane to stop, to load or unload where this is not prohibited."
Rule 142 details how lanes may be restricted for use by particular types of vehicles, which can apply some or all of the time, and will be indicated by traffic signs.
Vehicles could include bikes, buses, taxis, licensed private hire vehicles, motorcycles, heavy goods vehicles and high-occupancy vehicles.
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Drivers can be fined at least £70 for driving in a bus lane | PAThe penalties issued by councils were found to be heavily concentrated on a handful of city centre routes, with Manchester's Bridge Street leading the way as England's most prolific bus lane enforcement location.
The stretch heading toward Salford generated 157,974 fines alone between 2023 and 2025.
Sheffield's Arundel Gate, situated near St Paul's Place Service Road, recorded the second-highest tally with 116,264 penalty notices.
Each sits within a busy urban area featuring restricted operating hours, complex road layouts or bus gates that unfamiliar drivers can easily miss.
Drivers can be fined for travelling through bus lanes in the UK | GETTYBen Welham, motoring expert at cinch, said: "Bus lanes can be a bit of a minefield, especially if you're driving in a new city or relying on a sat nav that's not up to date Keep an eye on the blue signs that show where bus lanes start (and their operating times), and the thick white lines that separate the bus lane from normal traffic.
"If you think you’ve been caught unfairly by a camera, it might be worth appealing - especially if the signage was blocked or the road markings faded."
Council enforcement networks have expanded significantly since 2023, with 127 additional cameras installed across the authorities surveyed, while 92 bus lanes have been brought under automated surveillance.
While councils have been quick to issue fines to rule breakers, roughly one in every 11 fines was contested by motorists, with more than 280,000 appeals lodged between 2023 and 2025.
Of those challenges, 31 per cent proved successful, resulting in 87,713 penalties being overturned following review.