Local News · Reading
Reading yellow box junction fines surge as council enforcement crackdown continues
By Swindon Now Editorial Team · Published
Drivers in Reading face a significant rise in penalty charge notices for stopping in yellow box junctions, with council revenue from the fines increasing eightfold in two years.
Motorists in Reading are being reminded to remain vigilant at junctions following a sharp increase in the number of fines issued for blocking yellow box markings. Data covering the last three years reveals that over 12,200 penalty charge notices have been issued by Reading Borough Council, with the figures marking a substantial rise since the authority began its intensified enforcement programme in early 2023.
While only 745 fines were issued in 2023, the number of penalty charge notices jumped to more than 5,700 in both 2024 and 2025. This increase in enforcement has also led to a significant rise in revenue, with payments collected by the council climbing from £26,100 in 2023 to approximately £217,800 in 2025.
The enforcement strategy, which began with two locations in February 2023 before expanding to several others in July and throughout 2024, aims to keep traffic flowing at busy intersections. The council utilised a six-month grace period for each location when enforcement began, during which drivers received a warning notice rather than a fine for their first offence.
High-frequency locations
Data indicates that specific junctions have seen a high volume of penalties. The five locations with the highest number of fines recorded in 2025 were:
Kings Road / Orts Road: 1,225 fines
Oxford Road / Bedford Road: 1,077 fines
Kings Road / Eldon Road: 961 fines
Church Street / Church Road (northbound): 512 fines
Bath Road / Burghfield Road (eastbound): 472 fines
Motoring experts advise drivers to take extra care when approaching these areas. According to the Highway Code, motorists must not enter a yellow box unless their exit road or lane is clear. An exception is made only for those wishing to turn right who are prevented from doing so by oncoming traffic or other vehicles waiting to perform the same manoeuvre.
A spokesperson for Reading Borough Council stated that the locations of these junctions are kept under regular review to ensure they remain suitable for enforcement. The council emphasised that the primary objective of the scheme is to prevent vehicles from obstructing junctions and to ensure that traffic continues to move efficiently across the town.
Source: Reading Chronicle · View original