An 18th June Sunday Telegraph article found that "from 2017 to 2021, a total of 521 fines for moving traffic offences were issued to TfL staff when they were driving the transport authority’s official cars and vans".

Do you think you are being fair to motorists when over half of your own TfL fleet have been fined for entering a bus lane or a yellow box junction?

My Transport Strategy aims to dramatically increase the proportion of journeys that are carried out on foot, by cycle or by using public transport to 80% by 2041. For this to be achieved, our road network needs to run smoothly for the benefit not just of buses and other service-level public transport but for people cycling and for essential road freight and other essential vehicle use. TfL, as the highway and traffic authority for the TfL road network, is committed to improving the safety, sustainability and reliability of its roads.

Good compliance with road regulations is absolutely vital to the safe and efficient operation of the road network in London. Some 5% of the roads are TfL road network and the rest are managed by London’s local authorities. Poor compliance increases road danger and disruption and puts people at risk, especially vulnerable road users. It also causes congestion and delays, increasing journey times for bus users and drivers, which can have a significant impact on London’s economy. Road traffic regulations are there for the benefit of all road users. Fair and proportionate enforcement of the road rules are essential for delivering improved compliance and keeping Londoners safe.

For TfL’s part, enforcement activity is focused on the contraventions in locations that cause the greatest harm in terms of road danger or disruption, particularly to the bus network, which must operate efficiently to help Londoners and visitors move around our city. Blocking junctions and roads, for example, can negatively impact traffic flow and can hinder the passage of emergency vehicles. The importance of these rules applies to all road users. We all have to follow the rules to keep the system operating efficiently.

I want to be clear that TfL makes no special allowances for its own staff. TfL drivers, like all motorists, have a responsibility to follow the rules of the road. When they do not and there is no good reason, they are required to pay the penalty charge notice (PCN) themselves. Of the 521 PCNs mentioned in the article relating to moving traffic offences that were issued by various highway authorities over a five-year period, 100 were successfully appealed through the usual process open to all road users who are issued with a PCN. I make no excuse for TfL staff who break the rules and have asked TfL to look at what more it needs to do to ensure those who receive PCNs are appropriately educated to increase compliance.

Thank you, Mr Mayor. You are saying, basically, it is the individuals within TfL who are in the wrong? You are not saying that it was anything to do with the road layouts in this case?

No. I looked at the number of PCNs issued and TfL as a proportion is very low over the five-year period. It was 0.002%. Bear in mind we have coverage of only 5% of the roads and 95% of the roads, the rest of them, are covered by the councils. I have seen no evidence in preparing for this answer of any problems with those regulations in relation to what those councils do. If there are particular concerns you have, I am more than happy to take them away.

OK. I will leave it there.  Thank you, Chair.