Blue boxes to replace yellow boxes

Following good reception and positive test results of the so-called yellow boxes, a twin solution will be introduced on the streets of Szczecin, except in blue.

The English name "yellow box" refers to a field designated in the middle of a junction, painted in yellow criss-cross lines, which must not be entered unless it is possible to exit it, that is, to exit the junction. This solution operates successfully in many Western European cities at the junctions of priority roads and roads without right of way.

In Szczecin these were introduced for testing purposes last summer at five intersections. The signage was removed after three months.

“The role of the yellow boxes is to remind drivers that stopping at intersections is not allowed and to mark those places which, when blocked, can lead to gridlock, which we often have to deal with on the streets of Szczecin,” explains Marcin Charęza, head of the Office for Traffic Operation at the City Hall. "Applying this solution has proved a great success. We have received many positive comments from motorists, as well as requests for more yellow boxes in various places."

As has been announced, based on last year's tests, the Office for The Traffic Operation at the City Hall also created  a special report on the operation of yellow boxes in Szczecin, which was sent last month to the Ministry of Infrastructure. It reads, for example, that at the intersections with the yellow box system considerable improvements in capacity were observed just after a few days since its introduction - in particular a significant decrease in the motorists stopping their vehicles at the intersection box. (full report attached )https://wiadomosci.szczecin.eu/download/13184

Therefore, it has been decided to restore the marking, which will fully resemble the yellow boxes, except that the grid lines will be blue RAL 5015.

"The change of colour is associated with the signals that the Ministry of Infrastructure received from the press, pointing out that the yellow lines are reserved solely for temporary traffic marking,” says Paulina Łątka from the City Information Centre. "Blue, on the other hand, is a neutral colour, which already appears on the streets of Szczecin in the signage of tram stops or parking spaces for people with disabilities.

First, the blue boxes will appear at intersections where they already proved successful last year, namely:

- Europejska – Dworska,
- Matejki - Bazarowa,
- Wierzbowa – Reczańska,
- plac Kościuszki
- Małopolska - Matejki
and additionally:
- Unii Lubelskiej – Orląt Lwowskich.

As before, an information campaign will also be launched in these areas. The City Hall, Roads and Public Transport Authority [ZDiTM] and the Police representatives will distribute to motorists 1,500 leaflets, reflectors and car scents.

In the future, blue boxes may appear at some other intersections. However, they are primarily informational and educational in nature - they are intended to develop positive habits that motorists will also apply at intersections without such marking.

Schedule for the marking works (subject to weather conditions):

24-26 Aug - RECZAŃSKA, DWORSKA
27-29 Aug - MAŁOPOLSKA, BAZAROWA
29-31 Aug - ORLĄT LWOWSKICH, PLAC KOŚCIUSZKI