Some yellow boxes break rules, engineer claims

Yellow boxes must adhere to guidelines set by the Department for Transport

Some road markings are against Department for Transport guidance and drivers could have grounds to appeal fines, a chartered engineer and self-described "yellow box guru" has said.

In a report for the RAC, Sam Wright claims some yellow boxes in Reading - including at the junction of Eldon Road and Kings Road - wrongly extend to the far side of the T-junction.

He claimed his report had been used by a driver appealing against a penalty in Redbridge, London, and the adjudicator "agreed" and cancelled the fine.

Reading Borough Council insisted all their yellow boxes "have been reviewed to ensure they are in line" with the guidance.

A DfT spokesperson said the government was "committed to ensuring councils don't unfairly penalise motorists to raise revenue".

All traffic signs and road markings must adhere to the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016.

In that guidance, it says yellow boxes covering half the junction are "appropriate at T-junctions" where traffic "blocks back from one direction only".

It said they should "be used only on the minor road side of the main carriageway" and that a half-box on the opposite side of the road as well "generally serves no useful purpose".

Mr Wright said his research was used by police officer Clive Treacher to appeal a yellow box fine and, while he did stress that adjudicators have discretion to uphold fines, the successful appeal could be cited for similar cases in Reading.

The yellow box at the junction between Kings Road and Eldon Road is one of many that does not follow DfT guidelines, Mr Wright claimed

He shared his concerns about eight yellow boxes in Reading earlier this year, but claimed the response from a council parking manager was "dismissive".

"They said 'we know what we are doing'," he said.

"They did look into it but it appears they didn’t do anything about it."

The DfT said it was the responsibility pf local councils to ensure their road markings comply with regulations.

A spokesperson for Reading Borough Council said the yellow boxes were "in line" with the current rules, and said those that were not were "redesigned and re-marked... before any enforcement began".

The spokesperson added "any surplus revenue" from the fines would be "re-invested in transport or highways improvements across Reading".