Numerous motorists have found themselves driving on the Luton and Dunstable Guided Busway despite the council claiming it is “impossible” to do so accidentally.
Drivers, especially those unfamiliar with Luton, have told Luton Today they saw no signs warning them of the busway and were “petrified” when they realised where they were.
Councillor Dave Taylor said anyone who drives a car on the busway is “foolish and irresponsible”.
Nick McKee, from Newmarket, found himself driving on the busway on Saturday evening when he was using his SatNav to get to G Casino.
He said: “I was at traffic lights and the SatNav said to go straight on. I didn’t see one sign at all except a 50mph speed limit sign so I started to accelerate. I saw the car traps but was going fast so I couldn’t miss them. All three of my tyres were busted.
“I thought I was on a train line, I was petrified. I had to go along slowly as I couldn’t go back due to the car trap. I carried on and found two elderly ladies in a car who had done the same thing. Three of their tyres were bust and they got towed away by the RAC.”
Mr McKee was also rescued by the RAC and said his RAC driver told him he had previously picked up two other cars from the busway.
Mr McKee said: “As we drove off we saw an AA van towing away another car which had done the same thing. The scariest thing is the hole in the road. It’s going to cost me nearly £1000 to replace my tyres and the three wheel rings.”
John Nolan from Luton said he witnessed two “bewildered young ladies” in a car sitting in the Dunstable bound lane on Saturday.
He said: “They were asking our driver how to escape as a bus appeared at speed heading towards them,fortunately both Busway drivers handled the situation well with our driver flashing his headlights to warn his colleague of the impending danger...The bus driver said that it was the second car he’d seen on the busway that day. The busway is an accident waiting to happen.”
Driving a car on the busway is an offence under article 34 of the Luton Dunstable Translink Order 2006 and motorists can be fined £1000.
A Luton Borough Council spokesperson said: “It is impossible to ‘accidentally’ drive a car on the busway: the only way to do so is to ignore the warning signs and drive across the car traps in some way, risking serious damage to your vehicle.
“Anyone breaking the law in this way risks legal action resulting in a criminal record and a fine of up to £1000.”
CCTV cameras cover all busway junctions with the highway.
Councillor Taylor added: “I am amazed how anyone claims they can ‘accidentally’ drive on the busway if they are driving with due care and attention. There are clear markings on the road, clear no entry signs and clear indications about the concrete guides and car traps.”
>Have you been caught out on the busway?