box junction cameras

ollyshaw

This was on the news over the weekend,

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6072456.stm?ls

Where councils are going to start fining bad drivers for offences like blocking box junctions, using bus lanes etc.

I am anti speed camera (as they have replaced traffic cops and encourage bad driving), however, this should be rolled out nationwide ASAP. Where I work in Newcastle there are loads of selfish drivers who try and sneak through redlights, often blocking pedestrian crossings and other junctions :mad: .

What do you guys think?

Olly

albreda

I'm all for it too. I think it's very simple. If you know you should not enter a box (unless turing right) until your exit is clear then you should not have a problem. The only people to suffer will be those who break the rules.

movieman

The biggest problem with these cameras is very simple: they're looking at the symptom, not the cause.

The primary cause of people blocking box junctions in my experience is the totally screwed up traffic lights in many parts of the country: one set goes green while the set just over the box junction is red. People try to move up so they'll actually be able to move on further when the next set go green, and end up blocking the junction.

If we actually had a government of clue, they could fix the bloody lights so that people wouldn't have to stop at every single set, and then we'd see far fewer problems. It's not like this is rocket science, many other countries manage to time the lights to work together rather than to work against each other.

iluvmylexus

they have had this system in london, camden were the first council to put them up, they fined thousands of motorists in red lion square but eventually had to refund the drivers because the box junction was illegal
westminster have recently had an initiative to fine drivers in piccadilly for doing uturns outside the Ritz, even though it in not against the law there

sophie_maxwell

movieman wrote:

The biggest problem with these cameras is very simple: they're looking at the symptom, not the cause.

The primary cause of people blocking box junctions in my experience is the totally screwed up traffic lights in many parts of the country: one set goes green while the set just over the box junction is red. People try to move up so they'll actually be able to move on further when the next set go green, and end up blocking the junction.

If we actually had a government of clue, they could fix the bloody lights so that people wouldn't have to stop at every single set, and then we'd see far fewer problems. It's not like this is rocket science, many other countries manage to time the lights to work together rather than to work against each other.

this happens when I go to visit my parents it's chaos there's about 50 ft of road which fills up with cars before the red light ahead, whilst the one before is green :rolleyes: I think traffic moves better when the lights are out :rolleyes: :rotfl:

Dan29

albreda wrote:

I'm all for it too. I think it's very simple. If you know you should not enter a box (unless turing right) until your exit is clear then you should not have a problem. The only people to suffer will be those who break the rules.

Even if you're turning right you shouldn't enter the box if your exit isn't clear

peter999

Unfortunately councils cannot help themselves but abuse the system,
just like the public.

As in Decriminalised Parking Enforcement, councils have lost their marbles,
lost public support & lost connection with sensible enforcement.

Councils abuse the appeals process.

Councils cannot be bothered to deal with appeals properly & routinely reject appeals, forcing people to pay up or appeal to secondary appeals services such as PATAS/NPAS.
.

Altarf

Dan29 wrote:

Even if you're turning right you shouldn't enter the box if your exit isn't clear

But you may enter the box and wait when you want to turn right, and are only stopped from doing so by other vehicles waiting to turn right. If your exit 'fills up' (for example by traffic coming in the opposite direction turning left) after you have entered the box you are still OK.

So you can legally end up stranded in the middle of a box junction after the lights change.

Dan29

Altarf wrote:

But you may enter the box and wait when you want to turn right, and are only stopped from doing so by other vehicles waiting to turn right.

Or oncoming vehicles going straight on through the junction, which would also prevent you turning.

Altarf wrote:

If your exit 'fills up' (for example by traffic coming in the opposite direction turning left) after you have entered the box you are still OK.

So you can legally end up stranded in the middle of a box junction after the lights change.

Good point

gazhawkins

Recent schemes in Holland have demonstrated that if you REMOVE traffic lights, superfluous traffic signage and other clutter - traffic flows are increased markedly.

Such schemes combine pedestrians and vehicles in the same general area. It appears that car drivers drive more sensibly when they know pedestrians are around.

Don't take my word for - have a look for yourselves:-

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/main.jhtml?xml=/motoring/2006/10/14/mflights114.xml

Altarf

gazhawkins wrote:

It appears that car drivers drive more sensibly when they know pedestrians are around.

Go on tell us another joke, my sides are splitting.

UK drivers are thick, arrogant, idiots who don't give a damn about anybody but themselves and the fastest way to get from A to B. Pedestrians are nothing but an inconvenience to them and they will only pay attention to them when they are in another tin box with four wheels.