You are driving on a three-lane urban dual carriageway that leads directly onto a motorway. The left-hand lane is a bus lane signed as operating ‘MON–SAT 7 am–7 pm BUSES & TAXIS ONLY’. It is 5 pm on a weekday, traffic in the general lanes is heavy, and there is no additional signing permitting other vehicles. What should you do as you approach the start of the bus lane?

Explanation

Under Highway Code Rule 141, you must not drive in a bus lane during its period of operation unless the signs specifically allow your type of vehicle or you are entering it to stop, load or unload where this is not prohibited. The sign shown (‘MON–SAT 7 am–7 pm BUSES & TAXIS ONLY’) means that at 5 pm on a weekday you must not use the bus lane to travel in, even to avoid congestion or to join a motorway more quickly. You may only enter it briefly if you are stopping or loading where this is permitted. Therefore, you should remain in the general traffic lane and not use the bus lane to overtake or bypass the queue.