6,000 warning letters sent to drivers breaking bus gate rules in Southampton
126 penalty charge notices have also been issued in the first three months of enforcement
More than 6,000 motorists have received warning notices for travelling in a city centre road which is restricted to buses, taxies and bicycles.
While thousands of motorists have fallen foul of the rules in East Park Terrace, the warning letters appeared to be changing behaviours with only 126 penalty charge notices issued for repeat offenders.
Southampton City Council began enforcement of the bus gate at the end of April.
The bus gate, which runs directly outside Southampton Solent University, has been in place since July last year.
It was in operation without the use of enforcement cameras until April 28, 2025.
Cabinet member for transport Cllr Christie Lambert said there had been a “significant reduction” in the number of motorists contravening the restriction in recent months.
For the first six months of enforcement, the local authority is issuing postal warnings for the first time an authorised vehicle travels along the route.
If the same vehicle is clocked again by the cameras, a PCN is issued.
Come the end of October, the warning letters will be scrapped and financial penalties will be sent out for unauthorised vehicles on their first contravention.
The first three months of enforcement saw 6,146 warning notices issued.
The council confirmed that to date £875 had been paid from the PCNs.
At a charge of £70, or £35 if paid within 21 days, this means at most 25 of the 126 penalties had been settled.
All money received will be used to pay for the upkeep and running of the camera system, with any surplus reinvested into the transport network.
Discussing the benefits of the project, Cllr Lambert said: “The East Park Terrace scheme has improved access between the city centre, with its fantastic parks, entertainment and social venues, Solent University and residents in the communities beyond, helping people to take advantage of the health and wellbeing opportunities these afford.
“It also supports improved bus journey times and reliability in this leg of the Portswood and Eastleigh bus corridor as well as enhancing the local environment.
“As the camera enforcement continues to bed in, we expect to see even more people benefitting from the scheme.”
The bus gate was introduced by the council following improvements in East Park Terrace, which included upgraded crossings, intelligent traffic lights systems and additional cycle lanes.
This work was funded as part of the Southampton City Region’s Transforming Cities Fund programme.