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| London councils raise millions through box junction fines | |
| (1 day later) | |
| London councils are being accused of making millions of pounds from drivers who infringe yellow box junction rules because of poor traffic management. | London councils are being accused of making millions of pounds from drivers who infringe yellow box junction rules because of poor traffic management. |
| Most councils have a camera trained on box junctions enabling them to enforce the traffic regulations. | Most councils have a camera trained on box junctions enabling them to enforce the traffic regulations. |
| One box junction in Fulham has earned the council £2.4m in Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) fines in 18 months. | One box junction in Fulham has earned the council £2.4m in Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) fines in 18 months. |
| The Institute of Highways Engineers (IHE) said high infringement suggested there was a wider traffic flow issue. | The Institute of Highways Engineers (IHE) said high infringement suggested there was a wider traffic flow issue. |
| Hammersmith and Fulham Council has received £12m in fines from the Bagley's Lane box junction in seven years. | Hammersmith and Fulham Council has received £12m in fines from the Bagley's Lane box junction in seven years. |
| It said: "This is one of the busiest routes into London. Seven million drivers navigate the junction each year without breaking the rules and getting a ticket." | It said: "This is one of the busiest routes into London. Seven million drivers navigate the junction each year without breaking the rules and getting a ticket." |
| However, Richard Hayes from the IHE said: "Something is definitely wrong. | However, Richard Hayes from the IHE said: "Something is definitely wrong. |
| "Should there be a lot of infringement, then I think there is something wrong with the installation." | "Should there be a lot of infringement, then I think there is something wrong with the installation." |
| "The situation isn't the box junction - it's the traffic flow ahead of the box junction that is causing the problem," he added. | "The situation isn't the box junction - it's the traffic flow ahead of the box junction that is causing the problem," he added. |
| Barrie Segal, traffic fines expert | Barrie Segal, traffic fines expert |
| 1.Read it carefully. Check the registration number of your vehicle, the location, date and time. If any of these are wrong you have grounds to appeal | 1.Read it carefully. Check the registration number of your vehicle, the location, date and time. If any of these are wrong you have grounds to appeal |
| 2.Ask to see a video of the alleged contravention. Check another car did not cut in front of you and force you to stop in the yellow box | 2.Ask to see a video of the alleged contravention. Check another car did not cut in front of you and force you to stop in the yellow box |
| 3.Write to the local authority with a full explanation of why you think the ticket is incorrect. Be courteous and professional | 3.Write to the local authority with a full explanation of why you think the ticket is incorrect. Be courteous and professional |
| 4.Include copies of any evidence. Do not send originals | 4.Include copies of any evidence. Do not send originals |
| 5.If the council refuse your appeal you must either pay the fine or take your case to an independent adjudicator | 5.If the council refuse your appeal you must either pay the fine or take your case to an independent adjudicator |
| Andrew Ashe, who has campaigned for better traffic management at Bagley's Lane said it was the "perfect money box". | Andrew Ashe, who has campaigned for better traffic management at Bagley's Lane said it was the "perfect money box". |
| "As the cars are coming through you will see one traffic light which is green, encouraging traffic into the box, and the other one is red, and then they are stuck." | "As the cars are coming through you will see one traffic light which is green, encouraging traffic into the box, and the other one is red, and then they are stuck." |
| The Highway Code rule 174 states: "You must not enter the box until your exit road or lane is clear." | The Highway Code rule 174 states: "You must not enter the box until your exit road or lane is clear." |
| The only exception is if you want to turn right, in that instance it allows you to enter the box and wait until there is a break in oncoming traffic to make your turn. | The only exception is if you want to turn right, in that instance it allows you to enter the box and wait until there is a break in oncoming traffic to make your turn. |
| Mr Ashe said: "My big concern is that the councils are allowed to keep the money themselves, this means they are motivated not to make improvements, because it's leading to massive abuse." | Mr Ashe said: "My big concern is that the councils are allowed to keep the money themselves, this means they are motivated not to make improvements, because it's leading to massive abuse." |
| In 2015 Transport for London earned £6.5m from its box junction fines. It said it was using enforcement appropriately and was "not just using them as some sort of cash cow". | In 2015 Transport for London earned £6.5m from its box junction fines. It said it was using enforcement appropriately and was "not just using them as some sort of cash cow". |