Dealing With Yellow Box Junctions
Understanding Yellow Box Junctions
The Purpose of Yellow Box Junctions
The reason why certain junctions have a yellow criss-cross box is to keep traffic moving at junctions. Yellow box junctions are often located in busy areas.
Understanding correctly how to use a yellow box junction and it’s rules is important as they are designed to keep traffic flowing. Blocking a box junction can result in a penalty as certain junctions use detection cameras for such purposes, and of course, inappropriate use of a yellow box junction will fail a driving test.
Box Junction Rules
Box junction rules
A question frequently asked is ‘can you stop in a box junction?’.
The answer is yes, but a yellow box junction must not be entered unless your exit road is clear.
IF YOU CAN'T GET OUT OF IT - DON'T GO INTO IT!
If you do stop in a yellow box junction and your exit is not clear, you are committing a road traffic offence as you will prevent other vehicles from making progress and bring the entire junction to a standstill.
If entering a box junction during your driving test when the exit is not clear, this will be an instant test failure. Other than failing the test and making other motorists angry, it is also illegal AND MOST CITIES HAVE BOX JUNCTION CAMERAS - SO YOU WILL GET A FINE
How To Use A Box Junction
How to Use a Box junction
The basic rule for a yellow box junction is
IF YOU CAN'T GET OUT OF IT - DON'T GO INTO IT!
Many box junctions are monitored by CCTV and you will receive a fine of £130 for stopping in one.
Transport for London (TfL) issued 76,977 fines for yellow box junction incidents in 2020 alone.
Turning Left At A Box Junction
Regardless of which direction that you are going at a box junction, the first thing you need to do is look and assess if you can completely get out of the yellow box.
In this example, the car turning left can see that his exit is clear and so can carry on.
If there was queue of traffic there which stopped him coming out of the box he would need to stay by the solid white line at the traffic lights, even if they were on green.
Straight Ahead At Yellow Box Junctions
As always at box junctions if you can completely get through the yellow box, then you can carry on through.
In this example however the car that is going straight ahead can see that although the van in front has gone through the box and has cleared it.
There is no way that the car could completely get out of the yellow box.
Therefore they have to sit at the solid white line by the traffic lights even though they are on green.
How Not To Use a Yellow Box Junction
On this occasion the car has entered the yellow box junction area, but this time the learner cars exit is not clear.
So if the lights change, the learner car will be stuck in the middle of the junction stopping cars coming from his left and right
If the cars exit does not clear in time, he will be blocking the junction and the progress of motorists.
This situation also applies to vehicles traveling straight instead of turning right; the box junction must remain clear.
Turning right at A Box Junction
Turning right at a box junction
Box junctions are often in place at busy areas where traffic flow is crucial. A yellow box with crisscross lines in the junction indicates a yellow box junction. this tutorial is following the red car turning right on the yellow box.
If your driving test involves the use of box junctions, you will need to approach them exactly the same as any other junction by using the MSPSL routine, in this case, for Turning right at a junction
Stopping At Box Junctions
stopping rules at Box junctions
Ideally the car should have stopped behind the first line of the cycle waiting area, even if the traffic lights are green.
If a vehicle has passed the first line and has entered the cycle area, the vehicle must stop at the second line and not enter the box junction.
This is still likely to fail a driving test although in terms of general driving, far more acceptable than remaining in the yellow box.
Box Junction Laws And Fines
You are permitted to enter a box junction, stop and wait for oncoming traffic to pass, provided your exit road is clear.
It is against the law to enter the box junction if your exit is not clear as you will be blocking the junction for other road users.
Many box junctions around the country, especially in busy city areas have cameras fitted to take evidence of the incorrect use of box junctions.
If you are caught, you will receive a fixed penalty fine in the region of £135, although this depends where you are.
Local councils will often reduce the fine if you pay quickly or by the date provided.
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