A yellow box junction in south-west London has emerged as one of the country’s most lucrative enforcement sites, accumulating approximately £450,000 in penalty charges during the first eight months of 2025.
The location on Kingston Road in Kingston upon Thames issued an average of 27 penalty notices daily throughout this period. Roland Head, a 75-year-old butcher who has operated a shop near the junction for over four decades, expressed skepticism about the enforcement priorities.
“It’s not about traffic control, it’s a cash cow,” Head told The Sunday Times. “The local government isn’t going to change anything because it’s making them money.”
Head reported that during quieter business hours, he occasionally observes motorists becoming trapped in the yellow grid markings. On one Wednesday morning, he counted five vehicles caught between 8:35am and 9am alone.
The Numbers Behind the Notices
According to Freedom of Information Act data, Kingston council issued 6,568 penalty charge notices at the junction between January and August 2025, generating £451,405 in revenue. The site actually comprises two separate boxes on Kingston Road.
The yellow box markings were installed in 2015, though enforcement through fines didn’t begin until July 2020. Highway Code regulations prohibit drivers from entering yellow boxes unless their exit is clear, a rule designed to maintain traffic flow on congested roads.
Local Concerns and Complications
The junction’s proximity—less than half a mile—to an ambulance station in New Malden has created additional concerns. Emergency vehicles reportedly encounter delays as motorists hesitate to enter the yellow box, even when making way for ambulances, due to fear of penalties.
Peter Ryan, a 51-year-old bathroom salesman, described the psychological impact on drivers approaching the junction: “I feel angry as soon as I turn on to that road, almost in anticipation. It’s like everyone forgets how to drive because they’re so desperate not to get fined.”
Critics argue that the penalties can be disproportionate, as drivers may be forced to stop due to unpredictable actions by other road users rather than their own poor judgment.
Penalty Structure
Current fines stand at £160 across all London boroughs, reduced to £80 if paid within 14 days. Outside London, the charge is £70, dropping to £35 for early payment.
Council’s Position
A Kingston borough spokesperson defended the enforcement measures, stating that revenue from penalty charge notices is earmarked for traffic and parking management operations. Any surplus funds are directed toward transport-related initiatives, including Freedom Passes for elderly residents.
“These two yellow boxes are in place to prevent traffic from blocking each junction, and allow vehicles to enter and exit side roads, and allow sight of pedestrians and cyclists to motorists turning right … to improve safety for all road and pavement users,” the spokesperson explained.
The council has contested claims that this represents the UK’s highest-revenue single junction, noting that the site consists of two separate yellow boxes rather than one.
