Yellow box query

Gers

On a road I use there have been a number of yellow boxes protecting entry / exit from various side roads.

The council has effected repairs to the carriageway which have almost obliterated the yellow boxes except from around the very outer edges. Sort of like a huge rug on parquet flooring. This means that the main body of the previous box is now tarmac without any markings.

Does this invalidate the yellow box restrictions? I think so, however am having this discussion with a friend who insists that the box is still in force.
Thanks.

Norman_Castle

I suspect its still in force but the missing markings make it harder to enforce and could be a defence against prosecution. If its obvious its a box junction awaiting partial repainting I expect you could be prosecuted.

DoaM

Agree with the above - I was about to post similarly. The yellow box will be in force and covered (probably) by a TRO (?), but the lack of markings would be a reasonable defence against prosecution.

Are these boxes covered by enforcement cameras?

Car_54

Possibly. But it doesn't invalidate Highway Code Rule 151: "In slow-moving traffic. You should ... allow access into and from side roads, as blocking these will add to congestion"

or Rule 144 "You MUST NOT ... drive without reasonable consideration for other road users."

Or indeed common sense.

DoaM

Quite true ... but only enforceable by a police officer on the scene - I doubt an enforcement camera would allow a prosecution on those bases to be made.

Gers

Thanks for the responses. There are no enforcement cameras, it's a 'main' road through a suburb which gets heavily choked at both peak times.

The amount of visible yellow paint is very small. As a courteous driver I do keep the side roads accessible when I'm there, however the thought of the legality of the yellow box just entered my head in an idle moment. Last time I drove this road it was dark and raining so the leftover yellow marks were not at all obvious.

I shall abide by the spirit of the yellow boxes!

unholyangel

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2002/3113/schedule/6/made

Diagrams 1043, 1044 and the information directly under it detail how a box junction needs to be marked to be enforceable.

Its possible they just haven't gotten around to painting it yet.