Free Traffic Legal Advice

We have carefully considered your comments and decided not to cancel your PCN.

You have stated that there was temporary traffic lights, please be advised that traffic lights,
temporary or otherwise have no bearing on box junction criteria as box junctions are in place to
prevent gridlock and ease congestion. As such, if the light is green, but the exit is not clear
motorists must wait behind the box, until they can drive through without stopping.

The PCN was issued because your vehicle entered the box junction with the exit lane not being
clear and stopped due to the presence of a stationary vehicle in front, a bus, which entered the
restricted area prior to your vehicle. A contravention occurs if the motorist enters the box
junction and has insufficient space at the other side to exit without stopping. A contravention is
committed if any part of the vehicle is left stationary within the confines of the box junction
regardless of the length of time involved.

The CCTV footage shows your vehicle travelling through the box, following the vehicle ahead,
without slowing or waiting to ensure your exit route or lane was clear prior to entering.
Please be advised that motorists should not follow the vehicle in front as it may stop and
prevent their exit from the box junction.

The Highway Code Rule 174 states: "Box junctions. These have criss-crossed yellow lines
painted on the road (see 'Road markings'). 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."

It is the practice of some drivers to follow other vehicles into box junctions, on the assumption
that the traffic will continue to flow smoothly, so that their own vehicle will not have to stop in
the box junction. However, the only way a driver can ensure that their vehicle does not breach
the above contravention, is by not entering the box junction until a space large enough to
accommodate their vehicle can be seen beyond the junction markings.

The Council would like to refer you to the following web link (Online Media), to where you can
view the CCTV evidence of the contravention; as well as the photographic images;

The video is the evidence: please download it and post here.