A Midlands council has moved a step closer to introducing tough new laws at busy junctions which will see drivers face fines over common traffic 'offences'. Sandwell Council has now formally applied for new powers from the Department for Transport to punish motoring errors like waiting in yellow boxes and making wrong turns.

The local authority joins neighbouring Birmingham and Walsall in applying for the powers. Some councils have moved to take tough action against motorists who regularly break road rules.

They are rarely enforced at present because police don't have enough resources. Bosses in Sandwell said they wanted to "enforce at five locations which are evidenced to have large numbers of contraventions that cause existing ongoing safety or major congestion issues when ignored."

READ MORE: What Ofsted says about the best schools in the Midlands

POLL: Should Birmingham follow Wales and impose a 20mph speed limit on restricted roads?

CCTV cameras are expected to go up at key locations in the borough next year. These are:

  • Junction 1 M5 Roundabout - yellow box junction
  • A4123 Wolverhampton Road / Service Road (adjacent Hagley Rd West) - right turn prohibition
  • High Street, West Bromwich (between Bull Street and New Street) - prohibition of driving and loading
  • Ethel Street, Bearwood - right turn prohibition
  • Oldbury Road / Severn Stars Road, Oldbury - right turn prohibition

Councils may face accusations they are targeting drivers to make money, however bosses claim the changes are being made in the interests of safety and to keep traffic flowing. Increased measures targeting motorists may also raise eyebrows following recent comments from Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in support of drivers.

He criticised "overzealous" councils who he said were targeting motorists with "hare-brained schemes". Junctions where drivers will face fines have also been named in Birmingham and Walsall. These are:

Birmingham

  • Newhall Street/Great Charles Queensway (A4400) (city centre) - banned left and right turns
  • Bristol Road (A38)/Priory Road (B4217) (city centre) - banned left and right turns
  • Kingsbury Road/Gravelly Hill (A5127) (Erdington) - banned right turn
  • Corporation Street/James Watt Queensway (B4114) (city centre) - banned left turn
  • Rectory Road/Midland Drive (Sutton Coldfield) - no entry
  • Boldmere Road (B4142)/Cofield Road (Sutton Coldfield) - no entry

Walsall

  • Littleton Street West at New College Way and Wisemore - yellow box junction
  • Littleton Street West at Stafford Street - yellow box junction
  • Hatherton Road into Lichfield Street, Walsall - banned right turn
  • High Street into Victoria Avenue, Bloxwich - banned right turn
  • Market Place / Wolverhampton Street / Stafford Street (Willenhall Town Centre) - prohibition of driving
  • Park Street / Station Street / Gallery Square / The Bridge / Digbeth / Lower Hall Lane / High Street (Walsall town centre) - prohibition of driving