Can you clarify the box junction rule as see a lot of people in them when their exit is obviously not clear?

Question

Have I got it wrong. PS my stupid husband just got a £120 fine for being "caught" (and photographed)in one.

Answer 1

You are allowed to sit in the box junction as long as your exit is clear.  Don't sit in it expecting your exit to be cleared before you make the turn.  It's as simple as that.

If your husband was caught then he either jumped a red light camera, or his exit wasn't clear and hence the fine. ( £120. sounds a bit steep)

Answer 2

The other part of the answer is that lots of people do block box junctions because if they wait they will be 10 feet further back in the line of traffic after the junction and 0.2 seconds later at work or home.  I won't comment on your case, but in general people blocking box junctions are slowing down the flow of traffic for negligible gains and I would be happy if they all had cameras that were actuated by the sound of a horn!

Answer 3

If you are turning right, and you are blocked by an oncoming car that has stopped in the box you are ok. as your exit is clear, you just can't get to it. Any other reason and you should not enter the box unless your way out is clear

Answer 4

wcarmen is correct

Answer 5

You are only allowed to enter a box junction if your exit is clear, and you may only wait in one if you are turning right.

Answer 6

A box junction is a traffic control measure designed to prevent gridlock at busy road junctions.

The surface of the junction is marked with a criss-cross grid of diagonal painted lines (or only two lines crossing each other in the box junction) and vehicles may not enter the area so marked unless their exit from the junction is clear (or, if turning, to await a gap in the oncoming traffic flow).

In the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (where cars drive on the left), drivers may enter the box and wait when they want to turn right, and are only stopped from doing so by oncoming traffic, or by other vehicles waiting to turn right.

Similar yellow boxes may be painted on other areas of roadway (such as the exits from emergency vehicle depots) which must be kept free of queuing traffic.