Bus lanes and failure to stop?

[Silly Car]

Two for the price of one thread, I think I know the answers but thought it worth checking before entering into a long protracted claims process because I’m not… This relates to the front wing on my car being clipped by a bus leaving a bus lane ahead of exit of the bus lane. Loads of buses do this as they can merge into traffic rather than having to stop at the end of the lane, but doesn’t mean they are doing so correctly,

My understanding is the solid white line at the edge of a bus lane is a do not cross line for both buses to not leave the lane and other vehicles from not entering the lane. If that is the case, the bus had not place entering the lane from the left at the same time in entered from the right hand lane. Dash cam shows the bus cross 50m or so before the end of the lane. Google AI has provided the following:

“AI Overview
When Can You Drive in a Bus Lane? Markings & Signs – Go Girl
A solid white line marking a bus lane signifies the edge of the lane and should not be crossed by other vehicles during the lane's operational hours. While dashed white lines indicate where vehicles can enter and exit the bus lane, solid lines are a firm boundary.”

I think I would have a good likelihood of a successful claim as whilst the impact could be attributable to me changing lanes, the bus should have never entered that lane at that point therefore my manoeuvre should have been safe.

After the bump, the bus continued to force its way into my lane and then at the roundabout, indicated left and I followed 3/4 cars behind. The bus pulled up on the path 50m or so later and I then pulled in behind him. Just as I went to get out of my car, the bus pulled away and while I followed it for a couple of miles, he made no further attempts to stop and I had to stop following when he turn into a bus only road.

Part of me thinks that the bus driver did stop, waited a reasonable period of time before pulling away and didn’t see me pull up behind him therefore he did stop but he had no way of knowing I’d stop so just carried on with his route. Again this is all recorded on dash cam.

Is it worth labouring on this point should I claim, I say is, as there isn’t a huge amount of damage to my car and a local body shop should be able to pop out the dent and attend to the paintwork quite reasonably, yes I’ll be a few hundred quid out of pocket but I won’t have a recorded claim against me, non fault as I as I expect to be the case or otherwise when it all gets sorted out.

What say you?

[MyLittleStudPony]

You're meant to report any accidents to current and future insurance companies regardless of whether you claim.

There was a time when I think you could get away with it but I would worry in this digital world. If they find out you've not been straight with them, you go onto the super-high-insurance-for-life list.

[Mr. Dazzle]

Also not unlikely the bus has dash cams which will get reviewed tonight when someone from maintenance says "hang on, that scrape wasn't here this morning...".

[Saga Lout]

The only thing I can see in the Highway Code about leaving a bus lane is Rule 65, which is in the Rules for Cylists section:

Rule 65

.... Be very careful when overtaking a bus or leaving a bus lane as you will be entering a busier traffic flow...

If cyclist can leave the bus lane, I would expect that a bus can leave the bus lane. (But what do I know?)

[Wossname]

If that is the case, the bus had not place entering the lane from the left at the same time in entered from the right hand lane.

Should “in” be “I”?

…..the impact could be attributable to me changing lanes, the bus should have never entered that lane at that point therefore my manoeuvre should have been safe.

I’m confused. Are you saying that BOTH of you crossed the solid white line?

[Silly Car]

If that is the case, the bus had not place entering the lane from the left at the same time in entered from the right hand lane.

Should “in” be “I”?

…..the impact could be attributable to me changing lanes, the bus should have never entered that lane at that point therefore my manoeuvre should have been safe.

I’m confused. Are you saying that BOTH of you crossed the solid white line?

The bus left the bus lane (lane 1) into lane 2, after I’d started moving from lane 3 to lane 2. I didn’t enter the bus lane.

[Wossname]

Ah. Didn’t know there were 3 lanes.

[Noggin]

The only thing I can see in the Highway Code about leaving a bus lane is Rule 65, which is in the Rules for Cylists section:

Rule 65

.... Be very careful when overtaking a bus or leaving a bus lane as you will be entering a busier traffic flow...

If cyclist can leave the bus lane, I would expect that a bus can leave the bus lane. (But what do I know?)

Surely cyclists can basically do anything and be fine ???

I don't remember anything about this on my course (for the bus, not the cyclist!) but it probably wouldn't be the same over there anyway

[Saga Lout]

...

Surely cyclists can basically do anything and be fine ???

...

Yes they can, but contrary to what some of them believe, road traffic laws still apply to them.

[Noggin]

...

Surely cyclists can basically do anything and be fine ???

...

Yes they can, but contrary to what some of them believe, road traffic laws still apply to them.

Not often followed up tho !!

[Horse]

...

Surely cyclists can basically do anything and be fine ???

...

Yes they can, but contrary to what some of them believe, road traffic laws still apply to them.

Fairly sure I saw a headline that 10 cyclists were being done for jumping red lights than drivers. [Can't remember where, though]

However, as a % of numbers doing it?

[MrLongbeard]

Fairly sure I saw a headline that 10 cyclists were being done for jumping red lights than drivers. [Can't remember where, though]

However, as a % of numbers doing it?

Make 'em display number plates.

Won't make any difference what with there only being 800 odd red light cameras across the whole of the UK, but the uproar would be a hoot.

[Horse]

Google finds:

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/transpo ... 36074.html

Cyclists in the City of London have been caught 10 times more often than motorists for running red lights this year.

Since the start of 2025, 284 cyclists in the City of London have been fined for failing to stop at lights, but only 25 motorists were ticketed for the same offence.

[MrLongbeard]

In other words, motorist are ten times more likely to obey red lights than cyclists

[Mussels]

Did you report the failure to stop to plod? If not I'd do it before the bus driver tries to do the same to you.

[Bigjawa]

Also not unlikely the bus has dash cams which will get reviewed tonight when someone from maintenance says "hang on, that scrape wasn't here this morning...".

As an ex bus driver I can tell you there's absolutely zero chance of the DVD getting pulled unless there has been an actual complaint. And nobody from the garage will give a shit about a scrape as it means extra hassle and work.

[Bigjawa]

Did you report the failure to stop to plod? If not I'd do it before the bus driver tries to do the same to you.

They won't. Too much paperwork.

[Silly Car]

I’ve reported the damage to the bus company together with an offer of sharing my dash cam footage. The claims guy said local depot has 14 days to respond.

Local body shop has quoted £280 plus vat for the repair. It would have been cheaper if the wing was made from steel, as the dent would have probably popped out, rather than aluminium (aloominum for our friends in the US).

[katana]

Welcome to the bus drivers don't care, hence not stopping. Good you had a dash cam.

When you admit the claim, do not forget to claim for increased insurance premiums becasue of their drivers negligence. As insurance is supposed to leave in the same place as before.

[katana]

Also not unlikely the bus has dash cams which will get reviewed tonight when someone from maintenance says "hang on, that scrape wasn't here this morning...".

As an ex bus driver I can tell you there's absolutely zero chance of the DVD getting pulled unless there has been an actual complaint. And nobody from the garage will give a shit about a scrape as it means extra hassle and work.

Good to know the whole of the UK are the same level of care.

Mr Dazzle, no they won't, cos that means more work that unlikely scheduled in to their working day.