Box junction cash grab by councils: Drivers face unfair fines

Drivers will face unfair fines if municipalities take power to issue fines for yellow box junctions, the RAC warned yesterday.

Motorists are not allowed to enter the bays unless the exit is clear and are fined if they get stuck in them.

But outside of London, only the police forces have the power to punish motorists in England.

But research from the RAC found that 27 municipalities have put forward proposals to enforce 111 boxes under legislation introduced last year.

If they pass, they can issue their own fines. The RAC said there are issues with 90 per cent of the 111 boxes that are “likely to lead to” unfair fines.

Simon Williams of the RAC said: ‘It is a moral obligation to ensure that fines are fair and justifiable and that the appeals process is consistent across the country.’

In England, outside of London, only police forces have the power to penalize motorists for using yellow box interchanges.

But 27 municipalities have made proposals to keep 111 boxes under legislation introduced by the government in May 2022.

Successful applicants can issue penalty notices (PCNs) to offending drivers.

On Transport for London (TfL) red routes, PCNs are £160, reduced to £80 if paid within 14 days.

Chartered engineer Sam Wright was commissioned by the RAC to analyze the 111 boxes that the councils have proposed to keep.

The RAC said there are problems with 90% of the boxes which are ‘likely to lead to drivers being fined unfairly’.

Forty boxes were found to present visibility issues such as blurred road markings, while 18 extended beyond intersections.

Mr Wright, who was previously responsible for the design and approval of yellow boxes on TfL’s road network, said: ‘I have not seen any proposal that assesses the visibility of the box from a driver’s point of view.

“If you also include bad weather, poor lighting and other vehicles, the poor visibility situation is exacerbated.

“This is all very worrying, especially since enforcement takes place via cameras high up in the air.

Many of the boxes have been around for years, maybe decades.

“It seems that many authorities have simply assumed that the boxes already on the ground are suitable for enforcement, without conducting a new assessment as recommended by government guidelines.”

Mr Williams added: ‘Fining people can have real financial implications for those on the receiving end.

‘Enforcing yellow boxes means that the driver of a vehicle that briefly hangs over a box can receive a fine.

“Yet many motorists through no fault of their own end up stopping or getting stuck at these intersections.

“It is not only necessary but also a moral obligation to ensure that fines are fair and justified and that the appeals process is consistent across the country.

“We urge the government to urgently review the yellow box guidelines and clarify what is and what is not enforceable.”