Under recently expanded enforcement powers, drivers across England have been hit with almost £1 million in fines for blocking yellow box junctions at just 36 monitored locations last year. The RAC revealed these figures following Freedom of Information requests, highlighting the “enormously high” number of penalty charge notices (PCNs) issued and calling on councils to reconsider their approach.
Yellow box junctions are designed to keep traffic flowing smoothly by preventing gridlock. Motorists are only permitted to enter these marked areas if they can clear them completely or are turning right. Until May 2022, only London and Cardiff could fine drivers for yellow box violations, but new legislation has now allowed all English councils to request the authority to do so.
Data shows that outside London and Cardiff, councils issued 32,748 PCNs last year, totaling fines of £998,640. Typically, a PCN costs £70 but is reduced to £35 if paid within 21 days.
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Manchester City Council leads with the highest number of fines, issuing 13,130 PCNs across six junctions and collecting £446,706—nearly 45% of all revenue from yellow box fines outside the capital. Medway Council in Kent followed with 4,433 fines totaling £145,162, while Buckinghamshire Council issued 3,618 fines, generating £139,798.
The single most fined location was Dennis Roundabout in Guildford, Surrey, where 4,250 fines brought in £81,445.
Conversely, Gloucestershire County Council recorded just 30 fines, raising a modest £945, and Leeds City Council issued 50 fines, totaling £605. Although few drivers challenge these fines, appeal success rates can reach up to 87%, as seen in Medway.
RAC senior policy officer Rod Dennis emphasized that a low number of fines signals a well-functioning yellow box, urging councils to prioritize traffic management over revenue generation. “The large number of penalties issued in concentrated locations should prompt councils to review their box junction placement and size,” he said. “Boxes must be proportionate and fair, ensuring drivers aren’t unfairly caught in fine traps.”
Supporting these concerns, an RAC-commissioned engineering study examining 100 of London and Cardiff’s highest-fined box junctions in 2019 found 98 were larger than necessary—on average, 50% bigger than required to prevent blockages.
The RAC continues to encourage local authorities to balance enforcement with fair road design, aiming for yellow box junctions that keep traffic moving without unduly penalizing drivers.