Hundreds fined for blocking city junctions

Both junctions regularly became blocked by motorists, the council said

Hundreds of notices have been issued to drivers who have blocked two busy junctions in Leicester after cameras were installed.

Restricted yellow box areas were added in May last year at the junctions of Abbey Street and Gravel Street, and Vaughan Way and Causeway Lane.

Motorists stopping in the boxes received first offence warning letters from Leicester City Council during a six-month grace period to November and since then £70 penalty charges have been issued to drivers who block the junctions.

The city council said 1,865 warning notices were issued between May and November across the two junctions and 475 penalty charge notices (PCNs) had so far been given out.

The council says congestion often disrupted bus services using the nearby St Margaret's bus station

A total of 647 warnings and 280 PCNs have been issued for the Abbey Street and Gravel Street junction.

For the Vaughan Way and Causeway Lane junction, there have been 1,218 warning notices issued and 195 PCNs.

The enforcement was intended to reduce congestion in the area and help traffic flow, the city council said.

"Camera enforcement is an effective way of deterring motorists from committing traffic offences that be dangerous or obstructive for other road users," a spokesperson for the authority said.

"Motorists who break the law by entering the boxes without being able to exit can easily block the junction disrupting bus services, obstructing emergency vehicles and potentially causing gridlock.

"Camera enforcement now means that anyone caught breaking the law at these important junctions will automatically be issued with a fine."