Taxis are classed as public transport and use the ‘public transport’ lane everywhere I have been in Europe.

Please explain to me, and everyone else, why you think that in a democracy a government minister should have special privileges in traffic.

Taxis, being considered public passenger vehicles (a classification which in my view is somewhat contentious with regard to priority lane regulations) can use the bus lane. So can motorcycles and emergency vehicles.

Taxis are private businesses, and can hardly be considered public transport when they’re only carrying one passenger or just the driver.

Government ministers, on the other hand, ostensibly carry out governmental duties (i.e. public service) using their governmental cars.

To me, it is not unreasonable for a government minister, who would often have a tight schedule involving different stakeholders, to use the bus lane insofar as they are carrying out governmental duties.

That said, I’ve looked into the law and it turns out that a ministerial car shouldn’t be on the priority lane, since it isn’t a priority vehicle. It doesn’t make the fact that taxis can use it any less incoherent, though.

According to the law, where the inner lane of a carriageway is indicated as a priority vehicle lane, it may only be used by any public transport vehicle (excluding self-drive vehicles), any karrozzin, any bicycle, any motorcycle, any heavy goods vehicle and any other vehicles on priority duty as is mentioned in regulation 83(1).

Vehicles on priority duty:

83.(1) Fire engines, ambulances, salvage and rescue vehicles and other motor vehicles on priority duty may use acoustic and, or visual warning devices by means of sirens, bells, two-tone horns and flashing blue light while proceeding to an urgent call or in an emergency. In the case of medical personnel responding to an emergency call the flashing light shall be green.”

Please explain your reasoning.