The yellow box junction at Kingston Road and Elm Road will remain unchanged, following a decision by Kingston upon Thames' Place Committee.
The committee met on Thursday, June 4, 2026, and resolved to maintain the existing configuration and size of the yellow box junction. This decision came after a referral from the New and Old Malden Neighbourhood Committee, which had requested a review of the junction's layout and the feasibility of shortening the yellow box. The neighbourhood committee had raised concerns due to 'considerable attention including in national media in late 2025 due to the amount of Penalty Charge Notices being issued and resulting income being generated by the council.' They had resolved to review the layout and operation of the whole Kingston Road junctions with Elm Road and Westbury Road, and recommended that the Kingston Road Box Junction covering the junction with Elm Road be shortened until such time as a review takes place.
Independent consultants reviewed the junction and concluded that the current dimensions are adequate and function as intended, effectively regulating traffic flow and preventing gridlock. Their assessment involved multiple site visits and direct observation of driver behaviour, queuing patterns, and traffic flow during peak and off-peak times, alongside classified turning count and automatic traffic count surveys to quantitatively analyse vehicle throughput, travel times, and movements. A review of accident data was also conducted to understand the junction's safety record.
Crucially, the consultants advised that shortening the box would demonstrably compromise cyclist safety due to reduced inter-visibility between road users. This reduction in visibility would increase the potential for conflict and collision on a strategic cycle route. The risks are particularly relevant for eastbound vehicles stopped at the front edge of the yellow box, especially right-turning vehicles into Elm Road with straight-ahead cyclists on Kingston Road, as well as vehicles exiting Elm Road and motorcyclists travelling eastbound outside the main traffic queue. The consultants also stated that shortening the box would not offer significant benefits to vehicle throughput.
Legal advice confirmed that the current layout is lawful and compliant with regulations. The committee agreed with the recommendation to maintain the existing layout until a more comprehensive review of the entire junction is completed.
The report noted that camera enforcement of the yellow box commenced in 2020 and that the junction layout was modified in 2022 as part of the 'Go Cycle' project. The most significant change during this project was the introduction of a 'fully segregated cycle facility for eastbound cyclists on Kingston Road, giving cyclists and pedestrians the right of way over traffic turning in and out of Elm Road by means of a 'continuous crossing'. This involved some changes to kerblines and give way lines.
For more details on the committee's decisions, refer to the Decisions document.
