CONCERNED drivers have raised concerns about councils being given the power to enforce moving traffic offences by dishing out fines.

Moving traffic offences include stopping in yellow box junctions, making banned turns and going the wrong way down one-way streets.

These offences are typically prosecuted by the police, but councils have been granted the opportunity to apply to enforce the offences themselves.

Earlier this year, it was announced that Wokingham Borough Council has applied for these enforcement powers.

The application for the powers can either be approved or refused by a Designation Order.

The Department for Transport expects a Designation Order, which will include Wokingham Borough Council, to be laid in June to come into force in July 2023, subject to the approval of Parliament.

Drivers concerns have been raised about the council enforcing the powers in a survey commissioned by Confused.com.

The results of the survey showed that more than one if four (28 per cent) of those polled say that traffic offences should be left to the police due to their knowledge and experience when dealing with motorists.

Furthermore, almost half (47 per cent) of drivers are worried that councils are using this opportunity to make money, rather than focusing on improving road safety.

To recieve the powers, the council had to submit a bid providing examples of where it would like to prosecute offences.

The council identified 11 sites in its submission:

  1. Broad Street, Wokingham, at the junction with Rose Street: Banned right turn
  2. Barkham Road rail crossing, Wokingham, at the junction with Oxford Road: Banned right turn
  3. Station Road, Wokingham, at the junction with Station Approach: Banned right turn
  4. Wellington Road, Wokingham: Ahead only
  5. Gipsy Lane, Wokingham: Weight restriction
  6. Murdoch Road, Wokingham: Keep left
  7. Goatley Way, Wokingham: One-way street
  8. Milton Road, Wokingham: Vehicles prohibited except buses
  9. Easthampstead Road, Wokingham: Yellow box junction
  10. Hyde End Lane, Spencers Wood, at the junction with Fullbrook Road: Buses only
  11. Whitlock Avenue, Wokingham: Banned right turn

Councillor Paul Fishwick (Liberal Democrats, Winnersh) said:  “These sites were identified and selected by a review of complaints received, officer knowledge and feedback from the local police.

“These 11 sites were showing the highest level of driver non-compliance.”

The research from Confused.com found that 20 per cent of drivers (one in five) have been penalised for a moving traffic offence in the past.

One in seven (14 per cent) admitted they’ve knowingly committed a moving traffic offence but have managed to avoid a fine.

Nearly one in five (15 per cent) said they’re more likely to commit a traffic offence at night, when roads are quieter.

Another seven per cent said they’d commit a moving traffic offence if there were no other cars around.

When asked which offences they were most likely to commit, one in five (20 per cent) would be most likely to stop in a yellow box junction; followed by 13 per cent of drivers being most likely to drive in a bus lane.

Only six per cent said they’d be most likely to drive through a red light.

The poll results from Confused.com come from a poll it commissioned which was undertaken by One Poll between December 30, 2022 and January 5.

If the powers are granted, drivers will be served with a penalty charge notice (PCN) for breaches of £70, reduced to £35 if paid early, or rising to £105 after a ‘charge certificate’ is served.

It is expected that drivers will initially get warnings for breaches for six months before being served PCNs.