Enforcement of Next Four Yellow Box Junctions Live

THE next four locations to be enforced for the illegal blocking of yellow box junctions are now live.  

The Council began enforcing moving traffic offences at yellow box junctions earlier this year in its continuing drive to increase safety and reduce the queues which are a major contributor to poor air quality in parts of Reading.

Enforcement began at Kings Road/Orts Road junction, and at nearby Kings Road/Eldon Road junction, in February this year. The next four junctions, which went live today, (July 4) are:

• Queens Road junction of (Sidmouth Street) London Street
• Oxford Road / Bedford Road, West Bound
• Bath Road / Burghfield Road, East Bound
• Bath Road / Berkeley Avenue, West Bound

Motorists blocking the yellow box junctions are being reminded they will be sent one initial warning notice per vehicle, per junction. All subsequent infringements will result in a £70 penalty charge notice, reduced to £35 if paid within 21 days. The warning notice period will continue for a period of six months from the date each junction goes live.

The enforcement of yellow box junctions in Reading is being phased in on a rolling basis across a total of 15 locations in the town. These are junctions which are frequently blocked by motorists, adding to congestion and poor air quality for local residents through increased emissions.

An interactive map of all locations to be enforced can be found at https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1jqmbVPpBWlqWFvAc8ecAv6aMgaqu0mc&usp=sharing

Yellow box junction lines and signage are being refreshed, if required, at each of the 15 locations before CCTV enforcement begins.

“We know that the illegal blocking of yellow box junctions has a major impact on queues and poor air quality in parts of Reading, and on the health of local residents living in the vicinity.

 “The enforcement of four further key junctions from today will bring the overall number of junctions up to six in Reading and we will continue to introduce new locations over the coming months.

 “It is important to note that warnings, rather than fines, will be issued during the first six months for the first offence per vehicle at each junction. This is to give drivers as much notice as possible before official penalty charge notices are issued. I’d also emphasise that, as with all traffic and parking enforcement fines, the law requires that any surplus revenue raised has to be re-invested in transport or highways improvements across Reading.”

Whilst London local authorities have had the option of enforcing moving traffic offence powers for many years, English councils outside of the capital have only now been given the option by Central Government to apply for the same powers. The Council successfully applied to the Department for Transport to use the powers and has introduced enforcement following a period of public consultation last year.