Drivers face £70 fines for common junction mistake in Birmingham crackdown

Fines for yellow box junctions could see drivers fined £70 with new restrictions planned for Birmingham city centre in a massive crackdown from the local council and police.

Drivers could face £70 penalties for new yellow box junctions in the West Midlands. Fines for yellow box junctions could see drivers fined £70 with new restrictions planned for Birmingham city centre in a massive crackdown from the local council and police.

The proposed enforcement launching in Birmingham form part of the Cross City Bus Project which aims to improve bus services across the city. As part of the project Northfield High Street is set to see yellow box enforcement at the Bell Lane/Church Road/Bristol Road South junction.

Motorists who stop in the box could be penalised, with fines reduced to £35 if paid within 21 days. Better Streets for Birmingham said: "The box junction is busy and more often than not is blocked by drivers not using the junction properly. Adjusting signals could help ease this problem, however ultimately the problem here is that too much traffic uses this junction and the long-term viability of this junction needs consideration. The suggested future enforcement of the box junction must be prioritised following Birmingham City Council's Moving Traffic Enforcement pilot."

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It explained: "Illegal loading for food couriers adjacent to the box junction is a severe issue that blocks bus stops and the highway. TfWM should consider establishing the lead-up to the junction as red routes to make this easier to enforce."

It went on: "The box junction also severs pedestrian movements along the high street. TfWM should consider making it a scramble crossing with crossing countdown timers to help make pedestrian movements easier and improve access to the Bell Lane bus stop."

Any motorist caught stopping on the yellow grid illegally can be fined for obstructing traffic. Many box junctions have cameras in place, and you could be fined up to £70 if you're caught using the box incorrectly, the RAC has said.