It is a road rule often ignored that causes frustration for motorists, pedestrians and tram drivers alike.

Motorists who illegally bank up across intersections face a $159 fine.

But drivers flouting Road Rule 128, which involves entering an intersection when it is full and getting stranded there when the lights change, appear to be largely getting away with it.

The breach, which puts the guilty driver, pedestrians and cyclists at risk, attracted an average of just 18 fines a month in 2016-17.