Yellow box cameras: Oldham Council told all ‘may be illegal’

Sam Wright, a chartered engineer with experience designing and approving yellow boxes on the Transport for London road network, was commissioned to write a report ahead of plans for councils to enforce yellow box rules across the country.

Speaking to The Oldham Times, Sam, who runs the ‘Yellow Box Guru’ website, says that all of the boxes Oldham Council is planning to enforce have problems, which could make them illegal to enforce.

Box junctions are used to keep traffic flowing in areas such as junctions. 

In most cases, drivers are not allowed to enter the yellow criss-cross box unless their exit is clear and there is enough space on the other side of the junction for their vehicle to clear the box completely without stopping.

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Under legislation introduced by the Government in May 2022, councils outside of London are now allowed to enforce ‘Moving Traffic Offences’, including contraventions of banned turns or yellow boxes, using automatic number plate recognition cameras.

Oldham Council has been planning to enforce yellow box junctions at six locations across the borough, with £70 fines for those who stop in them, following a warning letter for first-time offenders.

However, according to Sam, boxes at all six locations are too large, extending beyond junctions – something which he says has been ruled illegal by adjudicators in London, and may even increase congestion.

Sam said: “In May this year, I did a report for the RAC which found that nine-in-10 yellow boxes proposed for enforcement in English authorities who have just applied for the powers have issues.

“Actually, in Oldham, all the boxes proposed for enforcement are too big. Some of them, for example, Hamilton Street/Glodwick Road, and Huddersfield Road/Livesey Street, are two-to-three times as big as they need to be.

“Vehicles that stop in part of a box that is not needed are not causing any obstruction, and ticketing them serves no problem. The bigger the box, the more difficult it is for drivers to traverse them, and ironically they can actually increase congestion – which is the opposite of the stated aim of enforcing them.

“The Department for Transport guidance is that authorities should carry out a fresh assessment of the boxes to ensure they are suitable, but it doesn’t look like there’s any evidence Oldham has done this and they seem to have just assumed that what is painted on the road is fine as it is.

“I hope Oldham will change the boxes before they commence enforcement.”

A long vehicle would overhang into this yellow box if stopped at the traffic light (Image: Sam Wright/Google)

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Sam said he had previously tried to get in touch with the council to warn it of the issues, but hadn’t received a response.

He continued: “I previously messaged the old leader, Amanda Chadderton, and she never got back to me. I’ve also messaged some other people in the council offering to help train them and review their boxes, but I haven’t had any response.

“I hope they will review them, but unfortunately evidence from other authorities around the country is that they don’t.

“A lot of authorities are quite happy, unfortunately, for their boxes to be bigger than necessary, it would seem.”

Cllr Chris Goodwin, Oldham Council cabinet member for neighbourhoods, said: “We’re introducing yellow box markings in accordance with national requirements and to improve road safety and traffic management for all users.

“If any improvements are needed, these will be introduced before enforcement starts.”

This story was updated with a comment from Cllr Chris Goodwin.

If you have a story, I cover the whole borough of Oldham. Please get in touch at jack.fifield@newsquest.co.uk or click to send me a message on WhatsApp or on Signal on 07517566383.