"Scion" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 08 Apr 2021 11:48:50 +0100, NY wrote:

snip

Box junctions at side junctions work well, apart from one little flaw:
you can be on the major road, with traffic from a side road on the left
obliged to give way to you. And you stop at the box junction. As soon as
the traffic ahead moves, a car on the side road turns left and occupies
the space. And then another one does when the traffic moves again. And
you on the major road are stuck there like a lemon, never able to go
because no-one on the side road gives you the priority that the HC rules
decree.

The actual rule is you may not enter the box if the exit is blocked by
stationary traffic. Once the traffic starts moving you may enter the box.
Stopping in the box because the traffic in front has subsequently stopped
is not an offence.

True, but is it legal to start off the instant the car on the far side has
started (hoping that they will move far enough that there will be space for
you on the far side) and then stop because a car on the side road has
started as well and got there first because they are closer? That's where
traffic light cameras and/or dashcam come into their own to support your
story.

Even without the side-road queue-jumping issue, what's the legality about
stopping on the box because you have misjudged how far the car in front will
move before stopping again? Are you expected to wait until the gap is proved
to be long enough to accommodate your car, rather than just hoping that it
will be? A bit of a grey area, and maybe one where good driving practice and
the letter of the HC differ.

A lot depends on where the box junction is: if you are overhanging at
traffic lights, the car from your left that you are blocking will be
starting from rest. You may get verbal and horn abuse, but it's not a safety
issue unless he fails to stop to avoid you. At a level crossing, where the
vehicle that you are blocking will be a train that is already moving (maybe
very fast!) it's a very different story ;-)