Drivers in England were fined close to £1 million in 2024 for stopping in 36 yellow box junctions, according to new analysis by the RAC. The data reflects activity from councils recently granted powers to enforce moving traffic offences.
Prior to May 2022, only councils in London and Cardiff were permitted to enforce traffic rules such as yellow box violations. Since then, 27 local authorities in England have been granted enforcement powers, and Freedom of Information requests revealed that these councils issued 32,748 penalty charge notices (PCNs) for yellow box infringements in 2024 alone.
Each PCN typically carries a £70 fine, reduced to £35 if paid within 21 days.
High Fine Volumes in Select Areas
The RAC’s analysis shows a significant concentration of fines in just a few council areas:
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Manchester City Council issued the most, with 13,130 PCNs across six junctions, equivalent to 36 per day. This generated £446,706—49% of all yellow box revenue outside London and Cardiff.
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Medway Council (Kent) issued 4,433 PCNs from five junctions, generating £145,162.
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Buckinghamshire Council issued 3,618 PCNs across four junctions, raising £139,798.
Together, these three authorities accounted for 65% of PCNs and 73% of total revenue outside London and Cardiff.
The single yellow box generating the most revenue was in Surrey, at the Dennis Roundabout in Guildford, where 4,250 PCNs were issued over seven months, resulting in £81,445 in fines.
Regional Variation and Box Design Concerns
Some councils reported very few penalties:
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Gloucestershire County Council issued just 30 PCNs from one junction, totalling £945.
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Leeds City Council issued 50 PCNs from two yellow boxes in the final four months of 2024, generating £605.
The variation has prompted concerns from the RAC about yellow box design and fairness in enforcement. Previous investigations by the RAC found that as many as nine in ten yellow boxes considered for enforcement by councils had visibility, size, or layout issues. These included boxes that extended beyond junctions or made it difficult for drivers to see the exit.
According to statutory guidance, during the first six months of enforcement, councils are expected to issue warning notices for first-time offenders before moving to PCNs.
Commentary on Enforcement and Road Design
Rod Dennis, senior policy officer at the RAC, said that while yellow boxes serve a role in managing traffic at busy junctions, enforcement must be applied fairly.
He noted that the large number of PCNs issued by a small number of councils could indicate issues with the placement or design of certain junctions. He also suggested that high fine volumes should not be viewed as a measure of success.
Dennis called for updated government guidance on yellow box design to ensure that they are placed correctly and appropriately sized to prevent trapping drivers unintentionally.
About Freeman & Co.
Freeman & Co. are a specialist firm of road traffic and criminal defence solicitors based in Manchester but with nationwide coverage.
Freeman & Co. specialise in a wide variety of road traffic cases, ranging from drink driving, speeding and mobile phone offences, to name but a few.
The firm was created by Nick Freeman, who has been dubbed “Mr Loophole” by the press for his technical legal ability and robustly challenging the prosecution.
Nick is well regarded as an expert road traffic lawyer and has successfully represented many high profile clients for a variety of motoring offences as well as criminal offences.
The firm of Freeman & Co. embodies the way Nick works, with minute attention to detail and challenging the prosecution at every turn.
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