Manchester drivers hit by yellow box fines of almost £450k
Drivers in Manchester have been fined nearly £450,000 over yellow box junctions, after enforcement powers were made available to councils, 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".Manchester City Council issued the most PCNs with 13,130 in relation to six junctions, bringing in £446,706. The authority said cameras had been put in place as a "deterrent" to illegal manoeuvres and they were well signposted and visible.
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.PCNs are generally £70, reduced to £35 if paid within 21 days.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.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.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.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.
'Must be fair'
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"."Very few people set out to deliberately flout the rules and get fined," he said. "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." 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".A "six-week period of grace" was also implemented, it said, with any first offences within the first six months only sent warning letters.The Local Government Association said: "All councils follow guidance to ensure motorists are treated fairly."There are processes for appeal if anyone believes they have been unfairly fined."
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