Moving traffic enforcement consultation

Overview

Leicester City Council has identified problems with the efficiency of three yellow box junctions located within the vicinity of St Margaret’s and Haymarket bus stations:

• Abbey Street / Gravel Street yellow box junction
• Vaughan Way / Causeway Lane yellow box junction
• Southgates underpass merge with Vaughan Way

The junctions are becoming blocked with traffic when motorists enter the box junction without ensuring the exit lane or road is clear, causing unnecessary traffic congestion and delays buses and emergency services in the area. It is also in contravention of the law governing yellow box junctions.

Highway Code Rule 174 states: "Box junctions. These have criss-cross yellow lines painted on the road. You MUST NOT enter the box until your exit road or lane is clear. However, 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. At signalled roundabouts you MUST NOT enter the box unless you can cross over it completely without stopping."

Enforcement of moving traffic offences, such as entering a yellow box junction without a clear exit, currently lies with the police. However, the Government has introduced new legislation which allows traffic authorities to enforce against illegal manoeuvres through the use of traffic camera technology. 

The city council intends to apply to the Government for the power to use camera enforcement for specified moving traffic offences, including at these three yellow box junctions to improve traffic flow, air quality, road safety, while also improving bus service reliability and minimising delays to emergency services.

We would like to hear your views of this proposal.