Bus lanes and the Bus Priority Box

LTA’s OneMotoring driving-rules page states that there are three types of bus lane — part-day, full-day, and bus-only — and that using a bus lane during operating hours is illegal for most vehicles. You must also give priority to buses when nearing a Bus Priority Box (LTA OneMotoring, Driving Rules and Information).

The same hours and a statutory “omnibus only” rule appear in the Road Traffic (Traffic Signs) Rules. This article records both the OneMotoring table and that statutory text. Where they use different names (“Bus Priority Box” on OneMotoring; “Bus Give-Way Box” in the Rules), both names are cited.

Operating hours

OneMotoring publishes this table (LTA OneMotoring, Driving Rules and Information):

The same page’s road-markings captions state the part-day and full-day hours with the days on which they do not apply (LTA OneMotoring, Driving Rules and Information):

• Part-day bus lane: no driving or parking in the bus lane from 7.30 am to 9.30 am and from 5 pm to 8 pm, except on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays.
• Full-day bus lane: no driving or parking in the bus lane from 7.30 am to 11 pm, except on Sundays and public holidays.
• Bus-only lane: no driving or parking in the bus lane at all days and all times.

The Traffic Signs Rules put those hours in legal form (SSO, Road Traffic (Traffic Signs) Rules r 8):

• Part-day: except on any Saturday, Sunday or public holiday, no person shall drive a vehicle other than an omnibus, or cause or permit any such vehicle to remain, on a part-day bus lane during 7.30 a.m. to 9.30 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• Full-day: except on any Sunday or public holiday, no person shall drive a vehicle other than an omnibus, or cause or permit any such vehicle to remain, on a full-day bus lane during 7.30 a.m. to 11 p.m.
• Bus-only: a person must not drive a vehicle other than an omnibus, or cause or permit any such vehicle to remain, on a bus-only lane at all times.

OneMotoring’s markings captions also state that violation of each of those three rules attracts a fine (LTA OneMotoring, Driving Rules and Information). This article does not invent a composition amount.

Who may use a bus lane during operating hours

OneMotoring states that using the bus lane during operating hours is illegal for all vehicles, except (LTA OneMotoring, Driving Rules and Information):

• bicycles in single file;
• emergency service vehicles and police vehicles on urgent duty call;
• non-scheduled buses / public buses.

Non-scheduled buses, such as school buses and factory buses, can drive in the bus lane, but they cannot stop, pick up or drop off passengers along the bus lane (LTA OneMotoring, Driving Rules and Information).

When you need to make a turn, you may use the dotted bus lane (LTA OneMotoring, Driving Rules and Information).

The Traffic Signs Rules list exceptions to the omnibus-only restriction, including an authorised ambulance, fire engine, or vehicle for police or rescue purposes on urgent duty call whose approach is made known by a distinctive siren, bell or multi-toned horn; a cyclist who is not cycling alongside another bicycle, three-wheeled pedal cycle, recumbent device or power-assisted bicycle on the left; a driver who uses the lane only as long as necessary to avoid danger or a collision; and specified other buses, which must not stop in a bus lane except to negotiate traffic (SSO, Road Traffic (Traffic Signs) Rules r 8(2)). Additional exceptions apply only to bus-only lanes under rule 8(2A).

Bus Priority Box (Bus Give-Way Box)

OneMotoring: a Bus Priority Box gives buses priority to exit bus stops. White markings with the word “Bus” and a triangle indicate that there is a Bus Priority Box just ahead. Slow down at the first Give Way Triangle and watch out for buses exiting the bus stop ahead. Stop before the Give Way lines, and give way to buses entering or waiting to enter the yellow Bus Priority Box. Do not stay in the Bus Priority Box (LTA OneMotoring, Driving Rules and Information).

The Road Traffic Rules use the statutory name Bus Give-Way Box. Where a bus is entering that box from a bus stop or bus bay, or a bus at a stop or bay stops before entering and the driver signals an intention to turn into the box, a driver or rider in the Bus Give-Way Controlled Area approaching the box shall stop before the Bus Give-Way Line and give way to the bus entering or waiting to enter. No person shall drive or ride any vehicle in, or cause or permit any vehicle to remain in, a Bus Give-Way Box so as to cause obstruction to any bus entering or about to enter from a bus stop or bus bay (SSO, Road Traffic Rules r 26A).

The Traffic Signs Rules describe the markings: a Bus Give-Way Controlled Area is marked by white triangle markings and the word “Bus”; a Bus Give-Way Box is painted in yellow and marked by an arrow, appearing after that controlled area and separated from it by a Bus Give-Way Line (SSO, Road Traffic (Traffic Signs) Rules r 7(14)–(15)).

Coverage debt

• Composition amounts for bus-lane and Bus Priority Box offences are not stated on the OneMotoring page cited above.
• The exact list of “bus-only lane” locations is not copied here.

Sources

• LTA OneMotoring, Driving Rules and Information
• Road Traffic (Traffic Signs) Rules r 7–8
• Road Traffic Rules r 26A