Sixty-four motorists were fined on Monday for driving in the emergency lane on the Ben Schoeman highway towards Pretoria, said Tshwane metro police.

"We have noted that there is a tendency by some motorists to resort to driving on the yellow lane whenever the traffic is slow," said spokesperson Console Tleane.

"The practice is an offence in terms of the National Road Traffic Act...," he said.

The only vehicles allowed to drive in the yellow lane were those of emergency services such as the police and fire department, and then only if they used their blue or red emergency lights and sirens.

"We have noted that often emergency vehicles are denied right of way because other motorists may be blocking the lane...," said Tleane.

"... This [may] at times mean the difference between life and death whenever there are accidents and emergency vehicles must reach the scene on time," he added.

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