Waltham Forest issued 6,955 bus lane and bus gate fines in the first six months of 2026, bringing in £302,900, according to new analysis of London enforcement figures.
The figures come from analysis by MoneySuperMarket, reported by London TV, based on Freedom of Information requests to 23 councils and transport authorities across the capital.
Where Waltham Forest sits
Across London, drivers were issued nearly 250,000 bus lane and bus gate Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) between January and June 2026, generating nearly £10 million in fines. That is roughly one fine a minute, and more than £53,000 collected from motorists each day.
Waltham Forest ranked eighth among boroughs for the number of fines issued, behind Southwark (26,242), Lambeth (17,975), Enfield (15,922), Ealing (13,202), Greenwich (11,414), Merton (8,395) and Croydon (7,692).
On revenue, the borough ranked tenth. Southwark topped that table with more than £1.4 million, followed by Croydon (£909,680) and Lambeth (£676,790).
Transport for London, which enforces bus lanes on the capital's main red routes, was the single biggest enforcement body, issuing 90,511 fines worth £2.4 million over the period.
Bus lanes and bus gates
Bus lanes are road lanes reserved for buses, and often taxis, cyclists and motorbikes. Bus gates block a short stretch of road to all traffic except buses, rather than restricting a single lane. Both are enforced by CCTV or automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras.
Advice for drivers
Alicia Hempsted, car insurance expert at MoneySuperMarket, said: "Bus lanes and gates are an important part of road infrastructure, allowing traffic to flow freely during busy periods."
She said PCNs are civil penalties rather than criminal notices such as speeding or drink driving, "so they won't have any impact on your car insurance."
She added that "fines are often reduced by 50% if they're settled within 14 to 21 days, though this does vary between locations", and advised drivers to "review the details of the PCN carefully before paying." She warned that failing to pay within the given time can escalate to a County Court judgment or bailiff action.
