Drivers who illegally use bus lanes on London’s red routes are now much more likely to be caught after traffic enforcement got ‘smart’. .
Transport for London is to begin a trial this week of digital-technology enforcement, fitted in Smart cars – TfL’s first step in replacing its old analogue systems, currently used to enforce parking violations. .
The vehicles are equipped with automatic number plate-recognition cameras – backed by a global positioning system – to automatically detect offenders, with the information then burned on to a DVD recorder or, eventually, recorded using wi-fi. .
The project is out to tender and TfL hopes to have vehicles on regular patrols by summer 2007.