Look at the stars, look how they shine for you

[venta]

I have long since ceased being surprised by the number of drivers who don't appear to know how yellow boxes work, ie you mustn't stop in them. However, of late I have been surprised by the number of people whom I'd regard as good drivers who don't appear to know how yellow boxes work, ie you may stop in them if you're turning right and are only blocked by oncoming traffic.

In fact, I've been so surprised that I've gone so far as to actually check I'm right, rather than just mouthing off at random.

Paragraph 174 of the Highway Code states:

Box junctions. These have criss-cross yellow lines painted on the road (see 'Road markings'). You MUST NOT enter the box until your exit road or lane is clear. 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. At signalled roundabouts you MUST NOT enter the box unless you can cross over it completely without stopping.

So... now I want to know. How many people know this ?

[Poll #1248362]

Comments

[bopeepsheep.livejournal.com]

There's a very small one near my house that cyclists go through all the time - walking around it would be nonsense. It's there because turning right into Small-ishRoad from BigRoad (edit: or from Small-ishRoad into BigRoad, come to think of it) is otherwise more or less impossible at peak hours, thanks to the placing/timing of a set of traffic lights slightly further up BigRoad. The existence of yellow boxes is often nothing to do with the size of the junction per se.

[feanelwa.livejournal.com]

*thinks*
Perhaps I don't notice there is a box when the junction is small. I can certainly only think of huge junctions when I try and think of box junctions I can remember now. I will have a more careful look when I cycle to work now...(though not so careful that I stop looking at the cars!)