In the last five years, TfL’s income from fining drivers on London’s major roads has skyrocketed by 57%! Back in 2018/19, the fines brought in £56.8 million, but by 2023/24, this number had jumped to a massive £89.3 million. That’s a huge increase, and many people are starting to ask why.

One of the main reasons for this spike is the rise of advanced CCTV cameras. These cameras are much better at catching drivers breaking the rules, whether it’s driving in bus lanes, parking in the wrong spot, or making illegal turns. On top of that, TfL increased the cost of these fines in January 2022, from £130 to £160. With this increase in fine amounts and better camera tech, it’s no surprise that the number of fines has shot up.

Are London’s Streets “Paved with Fines”?

Some people, like Jack Cousens from the AA (a motoring organization), feel that these fines are becoming too much. Cousens said, “London’s streets are paved with fines,” a play on the old story about how London’s streets were said to be paved with gold. He believes that TfL is relying on drivers breaking the rules so they can make money from the fines. In fact, Cousens even said that TfL might need drivers to keep making mistakes just to keep its finances in good shape.

Think about it—on London’s red routes, which are about 367 miles long, TfL made almost £244,000 per mile in 2023/24! That’s a lot of money, and it’s making people wonder if there’s more to this story than just keeping the roads safe.

Why Does TfL Say the Fines are Important?

TfL has a different view on the matter. They argue that the fines are essential to making sure traffic moves safely and smoothly on London’s busy streets. According to TfL, these fines help reduce congestion, improve road safety, and even make London’s air cleaner by cutting down on traffic jams.

Siwan Hayward, TfL’s director of security, policing, and enforcement, said, “We are committed to keeping London moving safely and efficiently, and reducing delays on London’s red routes.” TfL also points out that when drivers break the rules, it causes chaos for everyone else on the road, especially for buses and other public transport.

What Are Red Routes?

Red routes are the most important roads in London. You might have seen them before—these are the roads where stopping is not allowed, except for very specific reasons. They are marked with red lines on the sides, and TfL takes them very seriously. These routes are crucial for keeping traffic moving in such a big, busy city like London.

If you break the rules on a red route—whether it’s stopping where you shouldn’t, making a turn that’s not allowed, or parking in the wrong place—you can expect to get fined. And with new cameras watching these roads closely, it’s become easier than ever for TfL to catch drivers who are not following the rules.

Big Fines from Ulez Too

Fines don’t stop at just red routes. There’s also the Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez), which is another area where drivers are being fined. This scheme was expanded in August 2023, and since then, TfL has given out over £322 million in fines to people who didn’t pay the Ulez charge. This charge is for vehicles that don’t meet certain emissions standards, and if drivers don’t pay it, they get hit with a hefty fine.

The Financial Side of Things

It’s no secret that TfL’s finances have been shaky in recent years. The organization has faced financial struggles, especially during the pandemic when fewer people were using public transport. In fact, TfL made an operating surplus of £138 million in the last financial year, and some of that came from the fines issued to drivers.

Critics argue that TfL is becoming too reliant on these fines as a source of income. They claim that instead of encouraging drivers to follow the rules, TfL is benefiting from people breaking them.

Safety or Money-Making?

At the end of the day, the big question remains: Are these fines really about making London’s roads safer, or are they just a way for TfL to make money?

TfL insists that the fines are necessary to keep traffic moving and to make sure London’s roads are safe for everyone. They say that if drivers followed the rules, there wouldn’t be any fines at all. On the other hand, some people believe that TfL might be encouraging a system where drivers are bound to make mistakes, and those mistakes are what’s keeping the money flowing.

It’s a tough debate. Everyone agrees that safety on the roads is important, but when the fines are bringing in this much money, it’s hard not to wonder if there’s more going on than just safety concerns.