Dale Avenue Approach

Travelling north, Dale Avenue appears to be an ordinary inter-war suburban street. The first, and only, indication that anything unusual lies ahead, is the blue sign containing a red roundel which lies shortly before the junction:

The sign reads "Width limit // 30 yards // ←". As you get closer, the left-pointing arrow indicates that the restriction applies to turning left, and that it is a width restriction of 2.0m. There is no indication in advance that the nearside lane at the junction is restricted to buses, cycles and taxis. Motorists wishing to turn left therefore keep to the nearside kerb and reach the Give Way lines pointing half-left. 

They then discover the geometry:

The width restriction lies 10 yards ahead. The 30 yards shown on the sign was the distance from the sign to the restriction, most of which is on Dale Avenue.

Those who have been here before know to approach the junction as if to turn right. This gives the best opportunity to align their vehicle head-on to pass through the width-restriction. The only road users who benefit from the splay for turning left are cyclists, taxi-drivers and refuse lorries: Dale Avenue is not on any bus route.

Having positioned themselves to turn left normally, motorists are in a bind, especially if there is a vehicle behind them or a stream of traffic heading for the width restriction. In that case, there is little that they can do but go through the bus gate. 

The proximity of Dale Avenue to the restrictions was one reason why Harrow would never have been able to implement a  westbound bus lane at this location. Instead, they created its equivalent. In 2022, when civil enforcement of moving traffic offences (such as contravening bus gates) was extended from London to the rest of England, the Statutory Guidance to local authorities advised them:

As part of this process, local authorities should be mindful of their duty under Section 122 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984. Scheme design should be reviewed to look afresh at the measures to be enforced to ensure that there is no location where a motorist would have to contravene the provisions to avoid a road safety or congestion problem.

These might include left-hand turns where there is a bus lane. . . Poorly designed schemes can undermine enforcement overall and give rise to public perception of revenue raising.

While that guidance did not apply to local authorities in London, s. 122 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 does. It requires all local authorities to

secure the expeditious, convenient and safe movement of vehicular and other traffic  ... on ... the highway

Arguments for No Contravention when Turning Left

PCNs for turning left from Dale Avenue through the bus gate can be challenged on the grounds that no contravention occurred because:

1. there is no advance notice of the bus restriction when turning left;

2. the bus restriction lies 10 yards ahead, which is too little to be able to manoeuvre to the width restriction;

3. the layout of the junction does not comply with the duty which s.122 of Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 imposes on local authorities to 

secure the expeditious, convenient and safe movement of vehicular and other traffic  ... on ... the highway

The Statutory Guidance about civil enforcement issued in 2022 drew specific attention to the need to avoid

location[s] where a motorist would have to contravene [a traffic restriction] to avoid a road safety or congestion problem

The guidance cited as the first example:

left-hand turns where there is a bus lane

That is precisely what applies here.

Written 30th October 2025; last updated 9th November 2025