New data has found that millions of drivers are being hammered by fines unknowingly amid calls for local authorities to issue warnings for first-time offenders.
Research from the RAC shows that more than a third of motorists (36 per cent) have accidentally driven in a bus lane because of "confusing" road layouts.
Four in 10 people who admit to driving in a bus lane, even if it was accidental, say they were caught on camera and asked to pay a fine.
As a result, an overwhelming majority (85 per cent) of motorists want councils to issue warning letters for the first time when someone is caught driving in a bus lane, rather than an instant fine.
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The RAC is calling for councils to issue warning letters before fines for bus lane contraventions
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This has been supported by the RAC. They say only four per cent of people admitted to deliberately driving in a bus lane, while others simply miss signage or are confused by it.
Oftentimes, signs can be unclear with differing information about the times and days when private vehicles are allowed to drive in bus lanes.
The RAC data found that 56 per cent of people believe the signage is inadequate, while a third say they are not easy to spot and not easy to understand.
Around 85 per cent of people say signs are confusing because there is too much information to read while also maintaining their focus on the road.
Simon Williams, RAC head of policy, echoed calls for local authorities to prioritise warnings ahead of issuing an instant fine for driving in a bus lane.
He added: "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."
He also highlighted how bus lanes are usually seen in urban areas where drivers will need to pay more attention to their surroundings and take note of the actions of other road users.
More than one in four drivers say they never drive in a bus lane, regardless of whether they are only operational at certain times because they do not want to be slapped with a penalty charge.
A third tend to err on the side of caution by not driving in bus lanes if they miss or can't read the signs, while a similar proportion say they only use the lanes if they are absolutely certain they won't get fined.
The RAC has called on local authorities to update guidance and signage to help motorists feel more confident about when they can use the bus lanes.
Williams suggested that the confusion around bus lanes could also be contributing to traffic as more drivers will prefer to remain on roads they are familiar with, even when the lane is not in operation.
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Drivers can be fined at least £70 for driving in a bus lane
PAHe said: "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.
"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.
"We have a great deal of sympathy for drivers because there is a lot of information to process when you’re at the wheel of a car doing your best to drive safely."
