Yellow Box Fine - Do I Have A Case

smross

I was recently fined for entering a yellow box, however, my entry was clear and the incident was caused by a rubbish truck pulling into the road ahead. The truck is clearly seen indicating right in the video footage, what I assumed was a move to change lanes, the truck was actually indicating right to reverse into a side road (not seen in video), causing all 3 lanes behind to stop abruptly. If it wasn't for this rubbish truck all traffic behind would've cleared the yellow box in good time. Once stationary I was then unable to reverse out of the box because of another car behind me, leaving my back tyres in the area.

I can't upload any footage or images as i'm a new user but can e-mail them if people are willing to help.

I would just like to know whether you think it's worth me pursuing an appeal or if I should just pay the fine. I am able to acquire footage of the rubbish truck should I require it as the pub that it was collecting rubbish from has active CCTV. Thanks in advance for any response.

Quentin

Pepipoo is the best place for advice over this

marcarm

I would say not.

You ASSUMED the rubbish truck was changing lanes, but it didn't. All the traffic stopped abruptly, so that implies that the exit from the box was not clear when you entered.

You should only enter the yellow box if the exit is clear, not if you are able to exit it in good time, which you have now found out.

forgotmyname

smross wrote: »

I was recently fined for entering a yellow box, however, my entry was clear and the incident was caused by a rubbish truck pulling into the road ahead. The truck is clearly seen indicating right in the video footage, what I assumed was a move to change lanes, the truck was actually indicating right to reverse into a side road (not seen in video), causing all 3 lanes behind to stop abruptly. If it wasn't for this rubbish truck all traffic behind would've cleared the yellow box in good time. Once stationary I was then unable to reverse out of the box because of another car behind me, leaving my back tyres in the area.

I can't upload any footage or images as i'm a new user but can e-mail them if people are willing to help.

I would just like to know whether you think it's worth me pursuing an appeal or if I should just pay the fine. I am able to acquire footage of the rubbish truck should I require it as the pub that it was collecting rubbish from has active CCTV. Thanks in advance for any response.

You checked your entry was clear, But your exit should have been clear.

Cornucopia

It's really difficult to determine blame based on the OP's description. So much is down to details of positions and timings.

Also, the wording of the Highway Code on the matter is unhelpful to the OP, as it does not reflect driver best practice.

Tothepoint.

smross wrote: »

I was recently fined for entering a yellow box, however, my entry was clear and the incident was caused by a rubbish truck pulling into the road ahead. The truck is clearly seen indicating right in the video footage, what I assumed was a move to change lanes, the truck was actually indicating right to reverse into a side road (not seen in video), causing all 3 lanes behind to stop abruptly. If it wasn't for this rubbish truck all traffic behind would've cleared the yellow box in good time. Once stationary I was then unable to reverse out of the box because of another car behind me, leaving my back tyres in the area.

I can't upload any footage or images as i'm a new user but can e-mail them if people are willing to help.

I would just like to know whether you think it's worth me pursuing an appeal or if I should just pay the fine. I am able to acquire footage of the rubbish truck should I require it as the pub that it was collecting rubbish from has active CCTV. Thanks in advance for any response.

The black Range Rover that got caught too and actually did reverse and move?

It's a bit harsh you being caught in the way you were.

arcon5

marcarm wrote: »

I would say not.

You ASSUMED the rubbish truck was changing lanes, but it didn't. All the traffic stopped abruptly, so that implies that the exit from the box was not clear when you entered.

You should only enter the yellow box if the exit is clear, not if you are able to exit it in good time, which you have now found out.

So should op have come to a halt every time a vehicle indicates ahead

bigadaj

arcon5 wrote: »

So should op have come to a halt every time a vehicle indicates ahead

No, but they shouldn't enter the yellow box until they had a clear exit.

George_Michael

bigadaj wrote: »

No, but they shouldn't enter the yellow box until they had a clear exit.

According to the OP, they did have a clear exit when entering the box area. The lorry in question pulled over after they had entered.

smross wrote: »

I was recently fined for entering a yellow box, however, my entry was clear and the incident was caused by a rubbish truck pulling into the road ahead.

Cornucopia

Unfortunately, the law/highway code is not a quibble-free zone on this.

Box junctions. These have criss-cross yellow lines painted on the road (download ‘Road markings’ (PDF, 731KB)). You MUST NOT enter the box until your exit road or lane is clear.

On which basis, if the timing is such that the exit lane WAS clear when the OP entered, then there is no offence committed if the route subsequently becomes blocked.

Of course, in reality, most drivers do not wait for their exit to be definitively clear, and if they did, traffic chaos would ensue.

Car_54

Cornucopia wrote: »

Unfortunately, the law/highway code is not a quibble-free zone on this.



On which basis, if the timing is such that the exit lane WAS clear when the OP entered, then there is no offence committed if the route subsequently becomes blocked.

Of course, in reality, most drivers do not wait for their exit to be definitively clear, and if they did, traffic chaos would ensue.

The HC has paraphrased the law, which actually says "no person shall cause a vehicle to enter the box junction so that the vehicle has to stop within the box junction due to the presence of stationary vehicles" and doesn't mention the exit at all!

The OP certainly had to stop due to stationary traffic ... so guilty?