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Manchester drivers hit by yellow box fines of almost £450k Manchester drivers who break yellow box rules fined £450k
(about 4 hours later)
Councils across England can now apply for yellow box enforcement powers, under legislation introduced in 2022 The Highway Code states that drivers must not enter the box until their exit road or lane is clear
Drivers in Manchester have been fined nearly £450,000 over yellow box junctions, after enforcement powers were made available to councils, figures show. Drivers caught breaking the rules around yellow box junctions in Manchester have been fined a combined £450,000 in a year, new figures show.
The RAC, which obtained data showing £1m of fines were issued across the UK from 36 boxes in the last year said the "enormously high number" of penalty charge notices (PCNs) should "send alarm bells ringing in council offices". London was the only part of England where drivers could be fined for box junction breaches until the Government introduced new legislation in May 2022.
Manchester City Council issued the most PCNs with 13,130 in relation to six junctions, bringing in £446,706. Data obtained by the RAC revealed English councils issued 32,748 penalty charge notices (PCNs) in relation to 36 junctions outside of London in 2024, with drivers paying a total of £998,640.
The authority said cameras had been put in place as a "deterrent" to illegal manoeuvres and they were well signposted and visible. Manchester City Council, which issued 13,130 PCNs in relation to six junctions, said Highway Code rules for the junctions were needed to "prevent gridlock" in busy parts of the city.
Yellow boxes are used to try ensure traffic flows smoothly through busy junctions and motorists should not enter them unless their exit is clear or they are waiting to turn right. Yellow box road markings are used to try ensure traffic flows smoothly through busy junctions.
PCNs are generally £70, reduced to £35 if paid within 21 days. The Highway Code states that drivers must not enter the box until their exit road or lane is clear, unless they are turning right and have only stopped because of oncoming traffic.
Only a fraction of yellow box fines are appealed against by drivers, with the highest proportion appealed being 18% in the Manchester City Council area. Those who break the rules can be fined up to £70, with the amount being reduced to £35 if paid within 21 days.
The single junction that generated the largest revenue was at Dennis Roundabout in Guildford, Surrey, costing drivers £81,445 as 4,250 PCNs were issued. 'Period of grace'
London and Cardiff were the only parts of the UK where drivers could be fined for yellow box offences until new legislation was introduced in 2022. The Local Government Association said all councils "follow guidance to ensure motorists are treated fairly" and there were "processes for appeal if anyone believes they have been unfairly fined".
Freedom of Information data provided by English councils showed 36 yellow boxes outside London and Cardiff were enforced last year, with drivers paying £998,640. The data, which was issued to the RAC after Freedom of Information requests, showed a small number of drivers had appealed against yellow box fines.
'Must be fair' The highest percentage was in Manchester, where 18% of those fined made an appeal.
Rod Dennis from the RAC said a yellow box which generates a small number of fines indicates it was "working as it should", which must be the ambition for councils rather than using them as a "revenue-raising opportunity". Manchester City Council said enforcement cameras at box junctions were well signposted and advertised and had been put in place to "act as a deterrent" against drivers making illegal turns or blocking the road.
"Very few people set out to deliberately flout the rules and get fined," he said. It said a "six-week period of grace" was also implemented, with any first offenders within the first six months only sent warning letters.
"The large number of penalties being dished out over a small number of locations and in a short space of time should send alarm bells ringing in council offices." Rod Dennis, from the RAC, said he believed some councils were using the junctions as a "revenue-raising opportunity".
Manchester City Council said the cameras, which were well signposted and advertised, had been put in place to "act as a deterrent" to illegal turns or blocking of the boxes and the "majority" of drivers obeyed the rules and "help prevent unnecessary gridlock". He said "very few people set out to deliberately flout the rules and get fined" and he believed the "large number of penalties being dished out over a small number of locations and in a short space of time should send alarm bells ringing in council offices".
A "six-week period of grace" was also implemented, it said, with any first offences within the first six months only sent warning letters. "It's vital box junctions are used in the correct places and are only as big as absolutely necessary," he added.
The Local Government Association said: "All councils follow guidance to ensure motorists are treated fairly. "They must be fairly set up so that drivers don't find themselves stranded through no fault of their own."
"There are processes for appeal if anyone believes they have been unfairly fined."
Additional reporting by PA MediaAdditional reporting by PA Media
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