Latest news with #SamWright
Daily Record
9 hours ago
- Automotive
- Daily Record
UK drivers fined nearly £1million extra after new rule starts
The RAC said the "enormously high number" of penalty charge notices (PCNs) handed out across England outside London and Cardiff last year should "send alarm bells ringing in council offices" Motorists were hit with fines totalling nearly £1 million from just 36 yellow box junctions last year, after local authorities were granted new powers to enforce the rules, according to figures. The RAC, which revealed the data following Freedom of Information (FoI) requests, commented that the "enormously high number" of penalty charge notices (PCNs) should "send alarm bells ringing in council offices". Yellow box junctions are designed to keep traffic moving at busy intersections by ensuring drivers do not enter unless their exit is clear or they are turning right. Previously, only London and Cardiff had the authority to fine drivers for yellow box offences, but new legislation introduced in May 2022 now allows all English councils to apply for these enforcement powers. The RAC's FoI request to English councils uncovered that 36 yellow boxes outside London and Cardiff were enforced over the past year. The enforcement resulted in a staggering 32,748 PCNs being issued, leading to drivers shelling out £998,640. Typically, PCNs carry a £70 fine, which is halved to £35 if paid within 21 days. A breakdown of the figures by the RAC showed that Manchester City Council topped the list for issuing the most PCNs, handing out 13,130 for six junctions, raking in £446,706 – almost half of the total revenue generated from yellow box fines outside London and Cardiff, reports Bristol Live. Kent's Medway Council has come in second, raking in £145,162 after issuing 4,433 Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) for just five yellow box junctions it monitors. Buckinghamshire Council wasn't far behind, collecting £139,798 from 3,618 fines. However, the single most lucrative spot was Dennis Roundabout in Guildford, Surrey, where drivers were hit with £81,445 in fines from 4,250 PCNs. In stark contrast, Gloucestershire County Council issued a mere 30 yellow box PCNs, totalling £945, and Leeds City Council handed out 50 fines, amassing £605. Appeals against yellow box fines are relatively rare, with Manchester City Council area seeing the highest appeal rate at 18%. RAC's senior policy officer Rod Dennis commented that a yellow box yielding few fines suggests it is "working as it should", which should be the goal for councils rather than viewing them as a "revenue-raising opportunity". He added: "Very few people set out to deliberately flout the rules and get fined. 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. "It's vital box junctions are used in the correct places and are only as big as absolutely necessary. They must be fairly set up so that drivers don't find themselves stranded through no fault of their own." Chartered engineer Sam Wright, commissioned by the RAC, scrutinised the 100 most lucrative yellow box junctions in London and Cardiff from 2019. His findings, published in a report last year, revealed that 98 of them were oversized, not fitting their intended purpose of keeping crossing paths clear for traffic. The research indicated that on average, these boxes were 50% larger than necessary. Medway Council's portfolio holder for community safety, highways and enforcement, Alex Paterson, insisted that the council's enforcement is "not about catching people out". He highlighted that road markings have been updated so "nobody could reasonably claim not to have seen them". Deputy leader of Buckinghamshire Council, Thomas Broom, commented on the region's congestion issues, noting that the volume of yellow box fines is "directly relates to the number of people who commit these traffic offences". A representative for the Local Government Association stated: "All councils follow guidance to ensure motorists are treated fairly. There are processes for appeal if anyone believes they have been unfairly fined." Manchester City Council was contacted for a response.
ITV News
20 hours ago
- Automotive
- ITV News
Drivers hit by yellow box fines worth almost £1m in year
Drivers were fined nearly £1 million from just 36 yellow box junctions last year after councils were given new enforcement powers, figures show. The RAC, which obtained the statistics through Freedom of Information (FoI) requests, said the 'enormously high number' of penalty charge notices (PCNs) should 'send alarm bells ringing in council offices'. Yellow boxes are used in an attempt to ensure traffic flows smoothly through busy junctions. Motorists should not enter them unless their exit is clear or they are waiting to turn right. London and Cardiff were the only parts of the UK where drivers could be fined for yellow box offences until the Government introduced new legislation in May 2022, which enables all councils across England to apply for enforcement powers. Data provided by English councils in response to FoI requests by the RAC showed 36 yellow boxes outside London and Cardiff were enforced last year. This led to a total of 32,748 PCNs issued, with drivers paying £998,640. PCNs are generally £70, reduced to £35 if paid within 21 days. The RAC analysis found Manchester City Council issued the most PCNs, with 13,130 in relation to six junctions. This brought in £446,706 which was nearly half of all yellow box-related revenue outside London and Cardiff. Kent's Medway Council raised the second highest amount at £145,162 after handing out 4,433 PCNs for the five yellow boxes it enforced. It was followed by Buckinghamshire Council, which received £139,798 for 3,618 fines. But the single junction that generated the largest revenue was at Dennis Roundabout in Guildford, Surrey, which cost drivers £81,445 as 4,250 PCNs were issued. At the other end of the scale, Gloucestershire County Council issued just 30 yellow box PCNs, raising £945, while Leeds City Council handed out 50 fines, resulting in £605 being paid. 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. RAC senior policy officer Rod Dennis said a yellow box which generates a small number of fines indicates it is 'working as it should', which must be the ambition for councils rather than using them as a 'revenue-raising opportunity'. He went on: 'Very few people set out to deliberately flout the rules and get fined. '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. 'It's vital box junctions are used in the correct places and are only as big as absolutely necessary. 'They must be fairly set up so that drivers don't find themselves stranded through no fault of their own.' Chartered engineer Sam Wright was commissioned by the RAC to analyse the 100 boxes across London and Cardiff which were responsible for generating the most fines in 2019. A report published last year showed he found 98 were larger than necessary for their role in preventing queuing vehicles blocking the path of crossing traffic. The average box was 50% bigger than needed, according to the research. Alex Paterson, Medway Council's portfolio holder for community safety, highways and enforcement, said its enforcement of yellow boxes is 'not about catching people out', adding that road markings were updated so 'nobody could reasonably claim not to have seen them'. Buckinghamshire Council deputy leader Thomas Broom said the area suffers from 'a lot of congestion' and the amount of yellow box fines issued 'directly relates to the number of people who commit these traffic offences'. A spokesperson for 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.'
Hindustan Times
07-06-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Fitness coach shares fastest way to drop body fat from 30 to 10 percent: ‘You will lose 3–4 pounds every week'
Struggling with stubborn body fat and unsure where to start? You're not alone. For many, reducing body fat feels like an overwhelming goal, one that takes months of trial and error, fad diets, and inconsistent results. Fitness coach Sam Wright revealed his blueprint for cutting body fat from 30 to 10 percent in his Instagram post. (Also read: Weight loss coach breaks down different types of belly fat and ways to tackle them: From stressed to alcohol belly ) A post shared by Sam Wright | Online Coach (@ "Most people will tell you to go with a small deficit. The problem with that is, if you're 250 pounds trying to get to 180, losing just 1 pound a week is going to be excruciatingly long and you're going to give up," says Wright. "What you actually want to focus on is an aggressive deficit early. There's going to be very little downside because you've got so much body fat stored. You're not going to lose muscle or feel super hungry even if you're losing 3–4 pounds every week," he adds. "You need at least 1g of protein per pound of bodyweight, bare minimum," he advises. For best results, Wright suggests keeping 70 percent of your protein intake from leaner sources like 95-5 ground beef, chicken breast, Icelandic skyr, and flank steak. "Reserve the remaining percent for higher-fat cuts like ribeye to support optimal testosterone production," he says. "Ditch the cardio routine for lifting," Wright urges. "This is key to maximising fat loss and muscle gain." He recommends resistance training to failure at least twice a week, combined with at least 8,000 steps daily for consistent fat loss and overall health. Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.
