Cardiff Council raked in £920,682.20 in yellow box junction fines during the 2025/26 financial year, nearing the £1m mark.
A standard fine of £70 per penalty charge notice (PCN) is issued if a vehicle enters a box junction when there is grid-lock conditions, blocking traffic on the criss-cross yellow lines.
Among the key rules, you must not drive into the box unless your exit lane or road is completely clear and you cannot stop inside the box due to queuing traffic ahead.
At signaled roundabouts, you must not enter the box unless you can cross over it entirely without stopping, however you are legally allowed to enter the box and wait if you want to turn right. Your vehicle can stop inside the box only if oncoming traffic or other vehicles waiting to turn right prevent you from completing your turn.
Each £70 fine is reduced to £35 if paid within the designated time frame and fines are issued automatically via ANPR cameras under civil powers.
For the period 2025/26 a total of £920,682.20 was collected in fines in Cardiff, surpassing collections from the previous five years combined.
The current financial year has seen more than £221,830 already issued as of mid-September, with high-fine areas including busy spots like the Leckwith Interchange near the Cardiff City Stadium.
Paul Naylor, Communications Director with The Alliance of British Drivers, finds the leap in fines interesting to say the least.
“Questions must be asked as to the huge leap in fines,” he says.
“If the the total of £920K+ is more than that over the previous five years, what has changed?
“Better monitoring will no doubt be cited, but could it in truth be down to the road conditions, speed restrictions, inadequate signals and signage?
“Whatever the answer, it’s a nice little earner for Cardiff Council. A shame that the fines are unlikely to go into the pot that will improve driving conditions in and around the city.
“The near £1million will instead go into the general pot and be used in ways that many will see no benefit of.”
Visit https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/cardiff-yellow-box-junctions-drivers-34635611 for the full story.
ENDS
Author Paul Naylor is a former journalist, having worked for the Midland News Association for 25 years. Paul left the industry in 2017 and created his own media business – MEDIA & YOU. He writes here on behalf of The Alliance of British Drivers (ABD), an organisation for which he is now a director.
For all media enquiries, contact Paul Naylor on 07914 304 504 or email paul@mediaandyou.co.uk
Notes: Founded in 1992, the Alliance of British Drivers (ABD) is the leading organisation promoting the interests and concerns of drivers in the United Kingdom.
The UK has over 37 million drivers – that is a majority; we should stop tolerating the way we are treated by the government and local councils.
Cars, vans and taxis account for 80% of the mileage of all trips in the UK, and over 65% of goods being carried by road. The road network, and the people who use it, are of vital importance to the nation’s economy. Drivers should expect the road network to be improved and maintained to a standard that is fit for purpose. They should be able to use the roads in a safe and responsible manner without being subject to unreasonable charges, restrictions or penalties.
