After reading Andy Wolton's letter, Why I cheat in the bus lane (Oxford Mail, December 8), I, and probably hundreds of other good motorists, have one very simple message for him - leave home half an hour earlier!

That way, he will not need to act the fool by using the bus lane in Botley Road, Oxford, and will arrive at work in time for that extra cuppa.

He could try using the bus service from Wantage, in which case he would be allowed in the bus lane he likes to drive in, with all the other people on the bus.

Or is he one of those people who has to use the car to get to and from work, because he does not, in any way, shape or form, want to help ease Oxford's traffic nightmare?

Or does he consider he is more important than any of us, believing he should have the right to use all the bus lanes anywhere he goes?

If that is so, he probably believes that if he is unlucky enough to be stuck in traffic, he should have a nice police escort through the traffic jam, with the help of their blues and twos.

The police should come down a lot heavier on any vehicle using the bus lanes by handing out very big fines for first time offenders.

Let's start the fine at, say, £100 and if caught a second or third time etc, the fine should increase by 50 per cent.

That way, drivers like Mr Wolton would stop using the bus lanes and the money raised could be used to help the poor old city council in its day-to-day running of Oxford.

On the subject of bus lanes, can anyone tell me why taxis are allowed to use them?

They are no different to me giving someone a lift in my car and them paying for my petrol as a gesture of goodwill.

Unlike a bus that has bus stops on its set route, a taxi is a private hire vehicle that carries one fare at a time and can ply its trade anywhere its licence allows.

Bus lanes should be used only by buses and cyclists and everyone else should stay out of them, including taxis and Mr Wolton.

DAVID SPEKE Upper Heyford