Motorists across England have collectively faced nearly £1 million in fines from just 36 yellow box junctions in the past year, exposing the significant financial impact following new enforcement powers granted to local councils. This surge in penalty charge notices (PCNs) came after legislation introduced in May 2022 allowed councils outside London and Cardiff to issue fines for yellow box junction violations—a move that previously was limited to those two cities. The RAC, which obtained the figures via Freedom of Information requests, described the volume of fines as “enormously high,” suggesting it should “send alarm bells ringing in council offices.”

Yellow box junctions are specially marked areas designed to prevent gridlock by prohibiting drivers from entering the marked box unless their exit is clear or if they are waiting to turn right. This ensures traffic keeps flowing at busy intersections. The new data reports that 32,748 PCNs were issued outside London and Cardiff last year, generating £998,640 in fines, typically £70 with a reduced rate of £35 if paid within three weeks. Manchester City Council accounted for the majority of fines, with 13,130 issued across six junctions, bringing in almost half of the revenue. Medway Council in Kent and Buckinghamshire Council followed behind. Among individual junctions, the Dennis Roundabout in Guildford produced the highest single-site revenue, with over 4,200 PCNs amounting to more than £81,000 in fines.

While the financial totals are striking, the RAC raised concerns about potential misuse or unjust enforcement. Their analysis highlights that yellow box junctions generating only a small number of fines likely indicate proper functioning, whereas high volumes may signal that junction design or enforcement practices need review. Chartered engineer Sam Wright, commissioned by the RAC to analyse fines from London and Cardiff, found that 98 out of 100 boxes examined were significantly larger than necessary for their traffic management role—on average 50% bigger than needed—raising questions about fairness and efficacy.

The RAC has called for the government to update official guidance on the design, maintenance, and enforcement of these junctions to prevent drivers from being unfairly penalised due to poor planning or unclear road layouts. Research has shown many councils’ enforcement sites suffer from design flaws or contravene government guidelines, prompting calls for a thorough review to avoid drivers being caught out unfairly.

Some councils are defending their enforcement measures as necessary for reducing congestion and improving road safety. For example, Medway Council stated its approach is not aimed at “catching people out,” and that road markings have been updated to ensure visibility. Buckinghamshire Council noted that the volume of fines issued correlates with local congestion levels and driver behaviour. Meanwhile, local government representatives emphasised that fair appeal processes are in place for motorists who believe fines are unjust.

The expansion of enforcement powers is part of a broader national trend, with multiple councils preparing to introduce or already implementing camera enforcement at key junctions. Reading Borough Council started fining drivers for yellow box violations in early 2023, aiming to improve safety and air quality. Leicester City Council began preparations and in May 2024 initiated camera enforcement at two central junctions, with a warning phase preceding fines. However, the RAC has warned that the rapid rollout of enforcement powers, affecting nearly 40 councils, risks a surge in unfair fines, some potentially exceeding £100 for moving traffic contraventions—including yellow box offences—that were previously enforceable only by police outside London and Cardiff.

As councils gain increasing authority to penalise drivers for these offences, calls grow louder for clearer, updated government guidance and greater care in the placement and size of yellow box junctions. The RAC advocates for caution to ensure that such traffic management tools serve their intended purpose without unfairly penalising road users or becoming merely a source of local revenue.

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Source: Noah Wire Services