Driver’s divided over yellow box junction manoeuvre after motorist slapped with fine – but who’s in the right?
DRIVERS have been divided over a yellow box junction manoeuvre after a motorist was slapped with a fine.
Navigating yellow box junctions can be tricky and a small mistake could set you back £160 in fines.
A video, posted on X, former Twitter, has received mixed opinions on the social media.
In the clip, a small grey car with a sunroof can be seen entering a yellow box junction with the intention to turn right as the exit appears to be clear.
As it proceeds with the manoeuvre, the exit gets blocked by a black motor.
The grey car is then left hanging at the edge of the box junction, which prompted the Council to send a PCN.
The car owner in the post wrote: “Debate time. Is the small greyish car with a sunroof, which comes from the right and turns right but doesn’t quite exit, in contravention?
“Barnet Council say yes as they have sent a PCN. I don’t think so. Your view?”
Hundreds of motorists have flocked to the comments to argue their point, adding to the confusion.
Some have agreed that the driver was in the right to enter the junction and wait in the box.
One said: “Their exit was clear at the point of entry into the box. It also remained clear whilst they were in the box.”
Another added: “No it was clear when he started.”
A third person said: “His exit was clear when he entered the box, therefore he did nothing wrong I’d fight that all the way.”
But others have argued that the motorist should have waited outside of the yellow junction until all of the oncoming traffic was gone.
One person said: “My reading is that the car should have waited in the box but facing forward till it could pull across the oncoming lane AND exit.”
A second user wrote: “You can wait in a box, but you can’t continue through unless your exit is completely clear. So yes, in contravention.”
A third person argued: “Acres of space to lurch forward and exit the box. Avoidable ticket, drivers fault.”
Someone else said: “Yes, it’s a contravention because they are stopped in a yellow box. I do anything not to stop in a yellow box.”
The heated discussion couldn’t come to a resolution as the driver appeared to have entered the junction before the exit was blocked – as per Highway code.
But the motorist was also seen stopping at the edge of the yellow box which is technically against the rules.
Sam Wright, an engineer who used to be responsible for the design and approval of yellow boxes for Transport for London, told DailyMail: “You can overhang a box for just a moment and get a ticket. A fine often earns councils money but serves no traffic purpose.”
He also added: “Motorists who think they have been unfairly caught should appeal their fine. Drivers should have adequate visibility beyond the box to be able to make a clear judgment before entering it.”
Yellow Box Junction rules
Yellow box junctions, as the name suggests, are the painted boxes at a junction of two or more roads, accented by criss-cross lines.
These boxes are designed to keep the junction clear for through-traffic as a way to avoid traffic jams.
They’ll also keep the space free to ensure that fire engines always have a clear exit from fire stations.
You can enter a yellow box junction providing the exit is clear and there is enough space on the other side of the junction for your car to clear the box without stopping.
However, you can stop in a yellow box junction if you are prevented from turning by oncoming traffic.
The Highway Code says: “You may enter the box and wait when you want to turn right, and are only stopped from doing so by oncoming traffic, or by other vehicles waiting to turn right.”
You shouldn’t follow the vehicle in front of you as it may stop and you won’t be able to exit.
If you’re caught stopping inappropriately then you’ll usually receive a fine of up to £160 – although this amount can be reduced by 50% if paid within 14 days.