Box junction explained

A box junction is a road traffic control measure designed to prevent congestion and gridlock at junctions. The surface of the junction is typically marked with a yellow criss-cross grid of diagonal painted lines (or only two lines crossing each other in the box), and vehicles may not enter the area so marked unless their exit from the junction is clear, or they are intending to turn and are prevented from doing so by oncoming traffic, or other vehicles on the box waiting to turn.

Box junctions were introduced in the UK during 1967, following a successful trial in London.[1] In both Ireland and the United Kingdom (where cars drive on the left), drivers may enter the box and wait when they want to turn right and are stopped from doing so only by oncoming traffic or by other vehicles waiting to turn right.[2]

Box junctions may be painted on other areas of roadway which must be kept free of queuing traffic, such as exits from emergency vehicle depots, level crossings and car parks.

Box junctions are most widely used in many European countries such as Cyprus, Finland,[3] [4] Ireland, Malta, Portugal, Serbia and the United Kingdom; in parts of the United States, such as New York and Colorado;[5] and other countries, including Canada, Hong Kong,[6] Singapore, Indonesia,[7] Malaysia,[8] the Philippines,[9] South Africa,[10] Taiwan,[11] India[12] and Brazil.

Unmarked equivalents

In Australia, New Zealand and the European Union (excluding Ireland), road rules state that every intersection is a box: that is, the driver may not enter any intersection unless there is clear space on the other side, whether it is marked or not. In the EU this also applies to junctions with a minor road within the waiting area of a traffic light on the major road. The same rule applies at every intersection in Russia.[13]

Several U.S. states have enacted laws intending to decrease gridlock at intersections, railroad crossings, and marked crosswalks which prohibit motorists from entering any of the three until they are certain their vehicle can clear it, as recommended by Uniform Vehicle Code section 11–1112.[14] Examples include California,[15] Florida,[16] New York,[17] and Ohio.[18] No special road markings are used to indicate this rule, but some governments post warning signs to increase awareness of the law at problematic intersections.

External links

Notes and References

  1. [The Motor Cycle (magazine)|Motor Cycle]
  2. Web site: The Highway Code - Road junctions (170-183). 2009-08-27.
  3. Web site: Mikä ihmeen risteysruudukko? – Näin ajat uusien katumerkintöjen päällä . Kirsi . Matson-Mäkelä . Yle . 22 July 2015 . fi . What even is a box junction? Here is how you should drive over the new road surface markings.
  4. Web site: Tieliikennelaki 729/2018 . 10 August 2018 . Finlex . fi . Road Traffic Law 729/2018.
  5. Web site: Chapter 3B - Pavement and Curb Markings. Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices. Federal Highway Administration. July 30, 2016.
  6. Web site: Traffic Light Junctions. Transport Department. en. 6 May 2017. Hong Kong.
  7. Web site: Nurhadi . 2021-08-27 . Ini Arti dan Fungsi Yellow Box Junction di Lampu Merah . 2022-07-09 . Tempo . en.
  8. News: Public reminded to keep out of yellow box. September 22, 2014. New Straits Times.
  9. "13.6: 'Do Not Block Intersection' lines", Highway Safety Design Standards, Part 2: Road Signs and Pavement Markings Manual, Philippines: Department of Public Works and Highways, p.127
  10. 2012 . Southern African Development Community Road Traffic Signs Manual, Volume 1: Uniform Traffic Control Devices . National Department of Transport . 3rd . Pretoria . Chapter 7: Road Markings . https://www.sartsma.co.za/_files/ugd/4f7773_c4e3f39ec22848b08d31fff846ce53ed.pdf . 7.2.23 . 28 March 2022.
  11. Web site: 第一百七十三條 網狀線，用以告示車輛駕駛人禁止在設置本標線之範圍內臨時停 車，防止交通阻塞。其劃設規定如左. Section 173: Crosshatched lines, used to inform the driver that no vehicles can enter in the location where there is need to stop to prevent traffic jams. 道路交通標誌標線號誌設置規則. Ministry of Transportation and Communications. July 30, 2016. Taiwan. 190. October 13, 2012. Wikimedia Commons.
  12. Web site: Chandrababu . Divya . October 5, 2016 . Corporation tries to fix traffic clogs with box junctions Chennai News - Times of India . 2022-07-24 . The Times of India . en.
  13. http://www.gazu.ru/pdd/13/13.2/ Section 13.2 of traffic code
  14. Book: Traffic Laws Annotated. 1979. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, National Committee on Uniform Traffic Laws and Ordinances. Washington, D.C.. 312. 11 February 2018.
  15. http://codes.findlaw.com/ca/vehicle-code/veh-sect-22526.html California Vehicle Code Section 22526
  16. http://leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=0300-0399/0316/Sections/0316.2061.html Fla. Stat. Section 316.2061
  17. https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/VAT/1175
  18. http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/4511.712 Ohio Revised Code Section 4511.712

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