 | This articleneeds additional citations forverification. Please helpimprove this article byadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Box junction" – news ·newspapers ·books ·scholar ·JSTOR(July 2016) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
Abox junction is aroadtraffic control measure designed to prevent congestion andgridlock atjunctions. 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 bothIreland and theUnited Kingdom (where carsdrive 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 asCyprus,Finland,[3][4]Ireland,Malta,Portugal,Serbia and theUnited Kingdom; in parts of theUnited States, such asNew York andColorado;[5] and other countries, includingCanada,[citation needed]Hong Kong,[6]Singapore,Indonesia,[7]Malaysia,[8] thePhilippines,[9]South Africa,[10]Taiwan,[11]India[12] andBrazil.[citation needed]
InAustralia,New Zealand and theEuropean 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.[citation needed] In the EU this also applies to junctions with a minor road within the waiting area of atraffic light on the major road.[citation needed] The same rule applies at every intersection inRussia.[13]
SeveralU.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 byUniform Vehicle Code section 11–1112.[14] Examples includeCalifornia,[15]Florida,[16]New York,[17] andOhio.[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.
