Scottish CCTV to Identify Rogue Drivers

CCTV footage can be used to catch drivers that violate bus lane rules and parking restrictions in Scottish cities, campaigners say.

14:29 05 December 2017

Campaigners said that councils should have access to footage from on-street CCTV cameras to identify rogue drivers who flout bus lane rules and parking restrictions in Scottish cities.

 

Edinburgh Green councillor Chas Booth said: "The principal issue is that Edinburgh already has quite a comprehensive network of CCTV cameras,"

 

"What I am suggesting is not that we have new cameras, but rather that we discuss giving councils the power to use their existing camera network to better enforce illegal and irresponsible parking."

 

"One of the things that has been suggested to me for example was that CCTV cameras on buses, there will be some that point at the front of the bus and even thinking of bus lane enforcement that is the obvious question.

 

"That CCTV will be owned in the case of Edinburgh by Lothian Buses, so I don’t know whether there would be legal barriers to that."

 

However, the Institute of Advanced Motorists said that more is needed to enforce the law.

 

Spokesman Neil Greig said: "Whilst cameras can work well in black and white situations such as speed limits there are often many shades of grey in complex urban traffic.

 

"You just have to look at the problems around bus lane cameras in Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow to see what can happen if signposting and other information is not clear and thousands of drivers get caught out."