Bus lane
A lane reserved for buses during the hours shown on the sign — and open to everyone outside them, unless the sign shows no hours at all.
A bus lane is marked by a solid white line and signed at the entrance. The sign is the thing to read: it says which vehicles may use the lane — often cycles and taxis as well as buses — and the times the restriction applies.
The detail that catches people out is a sign showing no times at all. That does not mean unrestricted; it means the opposite. A bus lane with no hours on the sign is in operation twenty-four hours a day.
Outside the operating hours you may use the lane like any other, but you should still expect buses to pull in and out of it, and you should not use it to undertake queueing traffic. Parking or loading in a bus lane during its hours is an offence even for a moment.
21 practice questions on this
Each one shows the answer, and our note on why every other option is not it.
Car
- What's the meaning of this traffic sign? Road and traffic signs
- Where would you see a contraflow bus lane? Road and traffic signs
- What does this sign mean? Road and traffic signs
- What does this sign mean? Road and traffic signs
- What do the long white lines along the centre of the road mean? Road and traffic signs
- What does this sign mean? Road and traffic signs
- What does it mean if the signs at a bus lane show no times of operation? Attitude
- What could you do to reduce the volume of traffic on the roads? Safety and your vehicle
- When may you drive a car in this bus lane? Rules of the road
Lorry & Bus (LGV/PCV)
- Which hazard would be shown in a triangular road sign? Road and traffic signs
- A bus-lane sign shows no hours of operation. When is the bus lane in operation? Road and traffic signs
- You're driving a bus on a local service. When can you use this lane? Vehicle weights and dimensions
- What does this sign mean? Road and traffic signs
- You're driving a long bus. When would you need to straddle lanes? The road
- Which road user is most likely to be allowed to share a bus lane? Road and traffic signs
Driving Instructor (ADI Part 1)
- Where are you not allowed to park? Band 3 driving test, disabilities, law
- When can car drivers use a bus lane identified by this sign? Band 2 traffic signs and signals, car control, pedestrians, mechanical knowledge
- What could you do to reduce the volume of traffic on the roads? Band 2 traffic signs and signals, car control, pedestrians, mechanical knowledge
- Which road users are most likely to be permitted to share a bus lane during its times of operation? Band 2 traffic signs and signals, car control, pedestrians, mechanical knowledge
- You're listening to the examiner give your pupil a debrief at the end of their test. They have a serious fault for response to road markings. What error could your pupil have made? Band 3 driving test, disabilities, law