Cameras are to be installed to catch drivers who stop in restricted parts of two busy junctions near St Margaret’s Bus Station in Leicester.
Leicester City Council has gained permission from the Department for Transport to use camera enforcement at two yellow box junctions close to St Margaret’s Bus Station, using legislation that allows councils to deal with so-called moving traffic offences.
The new powers will allow the council to enforce traffic offences at the junction of Abbey Street and Gravel Street, and the junction of Vaughan Way and Causeway Lane.
Both junctions regularly become blocked by motorists who break the law by entering the boxes without being able to exit, disrupting bus services, blocking emergency vehicles and potentially causing gridlock.
The problems were identified as part of work with the Leicester Buses Partnership, which brings together local bus operators and the city council to improve services.
Cameras are due to be installed at both locations in March, before new enforcement powers are introduced later in the spring.
Deputy city mayor Cllr Adam Clarke, who leads on climate, economy and culture, said: “These new ‘London-style’ camera-enforced yellow box junctions will be among the first outside the capital, where they have been used for many years to the benefit of all road users.
“We’ve looked closely at the road layouts at both sites, which are busy parts of the city centre road network. The yellow box junctions in place are there to stop motorists from entering the junction unless their exit is clear, as set out in the Highway Code.
“However, it doesn’t take too many people ignoring that to cause significant traffic disruption, blocking access to and from the bus station and preventing emergency vehicles from getting through.
“Successfully applying to the Government for camera enforcement powers at these junctions means we can take more responsibility for ensuring traffic flows efficiently and safely.”
