A petition on the Parliament website is calling for heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) to be allowed to use bus lanes alongside buses and taxis in England. Created by Daniel Smee, the petition argues that permitting HGVs access could improve traffic flow, reduce congestion, and make better use of underutilised road space, especially outside peak hours.
Petition Details and Potential Impact
The petition states: "Require all highway authorities to allow HGVs to use bus lanes. Allowing HGVs to use bus lanes could improve traffic flow and reduce congestion. Large vehicles often slow general lanes, while bus lanes remain underused outside peak hours. Giving HGVs access would spread traffic more evenly, improve delivery reliability, and reduce fuel use caused by stop-start driving. Trial schemes could ensure bus services remain unaffected while making better use of existing road space."
If the petition reaches 10,000 signatures, the government will respond. At 100,000 signatures, it will be considered for debate in Parliament. The petition remains open until 14 October 2026.
Drivers Confused by Bus Lane Signage
The petition comes amid research showing that more than a third (36%) of drivers have accidentally driven in a bus lane. RAC research found that 42% of those who admitted to doing so were caught on camera and fined. RAC head of policy Simon Williams commented: "We have always maintained that the majority of drivers don’t deliberately set out to drive in bus lanes, so it’s good to see this research confirming that. Our suspicions around the visibility and clarity of bus lane signage have also been borne out, with drivers expressing considerable concerns about signs often being hard to spot and difficult to understand."
Williams added: "Bus lanes are more common in urban environments where the driver’s job in spotting and comprehending bus lane signage is arguably even harder. There is so much else to take in, from vehicles and other road users to traffic lights and warning signs. For these reasons, we continue to call on councils to write to drivers who stray into bus lanes the first time, rather than simply issuing them with fines."
Calls for Better Signage and Guidance
Williams emphasised that while deliberate offenders should be fined, many drivers end up in bus lanes unwittingly due to poor signage. He said: "While it’s fair that anyone who deliberately drives in bus lanes should expect to be fined, our research shows that far too many drivers end up doing so unwittingly, most probably because the signage really isn’t good enough. This can be despite bus lane signage almost certainly meeting government guidelines. We therefore feel there’s a good case for this guidance to be updated. Our findings suggest the quality and frequency of signage is a big part of why so many drivers fall foul of bus lanes."
