TFL "Keep London Moving"

[glassman]

Received a PCN from our friends at TFL alleging that the driver of our vehicle ******* contravened: "31 Entering and stopping in a box junction when prohibited".

The charge notice shows two pictures (taken at what seems to be 10 second intervals) one of our (liveried) vehicles in a yellow grid at a crossroad junction, but the VRN is not clear.

I have responded to the PCN requesting that they provide clearer evidence of the registration mark.

The images of the 'incident' appear to show our vehicle in the yellow grid with its brake lights illuminated (after, what seems, a the vehicle(s) in front also stopping before they crossed the marked area). If I try and argue that we were (and always do) pay due care and attention to these controlled areas / prohibitions but - on this occasion - were caught out by the unexpected stopping of the flowing traffic (rush hour time), is there any way we can avoid the fine?

Our letter also commends the campaign (grovel, grovel) and offers our full support to 'Keep London Moving'.

Chances?

[jasandjules]

glassman said:

Chances?

Slim to zip IMHO.

They want your money. Simple as. The fact that 20 flying pigs flew in and stopped in front of you causing you to stop on the yellow box bothers them not. If the car in front ran over 3 schoolkids and thus stopped to see if they were ok, and forced you to stop, they still want your money.

[puggit]

Agree 100% with Jasandjules - not a hope in hell, they only want your cash and use a thin veneer of traffic management to lighten your wallet.

Technically, even if the driver in front had caused the issue, your driver is still at fault.

Highway Code said:

You MUST NOT enter the box until your exit road or lane is clear.

www.highwaycode.gov.uk/16.htm#150

[eliminator]

puggit is correct.

If you enter a box when you "think" the vehicle in front will (a) clear the juenction and (b) make room for you then you are stuffed.

Then again, in London, if you don't enter and sit in some box junctions then you will never get over the junction!

[esselte]

puggit said:

Agree 100% with Jasandjules - not a hope in hell, they only want your cash and use a thin veneer of traffic management to lighten your wallet.

Technically, even if the driver in front had caused the issue, your driver is still at fault.

Highway Code said:

You MUST NOT enter the box until your exit road or lane is clear.

www.highwaycode.gov.uk/16.htm#150

But the rest of the rule is:

highway code said:

However, you MAY enter the box and wait when you want to turn right, and are only stopped from doing so by oncoming traffic, or by other vehicles waiting to turn right.

You weren't turning right were you?

[Major Bloodnok]

The irony is, of course, that if no-one used their judgement as to the probably continuation of movement of vehicles and, instead, waited until the vehicle in front cleared the junction before entering, traffic would slow down dramatically and cause more problems.

[silversun]

People should use their judgement but unfortunately there are 10 muppets for every one person who uses common sense while driving. There's a frequently-ignored box junction on a set of lights outside my office and sometimes you have to wait for a couple of light changes before you can get across because some mincewit has stopped across the box junction.

[streaky]

In future, drive a "bendy-bus". They don't get booked for entering YBJs ... Ken doesn't like it! - Streaky

[glassman]

eliminator said:

Then again, in London, if you don't enter and sit in some box junctions then you will never get over the junction!

Very true. My 'offence' occured along the A1 Holloway Road as you come up through Archway; it was 6pm on a Friday.

'nuff said?!