Dartford Crossing Toll Increases

lolarentt

.......does anyone know if they plan to reintroduce the 'dart tag only' lanes? These are still signed from the approach but don't exist anymore as the far right lanes in both directions will take auto payment as well as the tag.

JimmyTheWig

Throbbe wrote: »

I'm guessing that motorcycles are exampt because either they cause so little wear and tear as to be negligable in maintenance costs, or that it would be very easy for them to avoid the booths without costly modifications. The cynic in me suspects the latter.

I heard it was because it was inconvenient for motorcyclists to carry a pound coin and have easy access to it.

Constant_Change

Does anybody know how long it's been £1?

50% may seem a big increase but I'd rather pay £1 for ten years thsn £1.50 for the next ten than have it go up by 5p or something inconvenient every year.

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers!

vikingaero wrote: »

True that the bridge and tunnel has been paid for but the tunnel and bridge are a special case given the amount of manpower needed to maintain and service it.

The tolls were designed to pay for construction and to accrue a maintenance fund. That happened about 4 years ago, at which point the government reneged on their promises to parliament and decided to continue charging people to cross.

In other words, they had their hands in the till and couldn't take them out.

melancholly

glad i read this - i drive through it rarely, but always set out with a £1 coin ready on the dashboard to pay..... best get £1.50 ready after november then!

vikingaero

melancholly wrote: »

glad i read this - i drive through it rarely, but always set out with a £1 coin ready on the dashboard to pay..... best get £1.50 ready after november then!

Or be MSE and get yourself a DART Tag so you'll go through for £1. :beer:

melancholly

vikingaero wrote: »

Or be MSE and get yourself a DART Tag so you'll go through for £1. :beer:

but you have to pay £10 minimum a year on that - and only using it 3/4 times a year, it's cheaper to pay whenever i go

Andy_L

vikingaero wrote: »

True that the bridge and tunnel has been paid for but the tunnel and bridge are a special case given the amount of manpower needed to maintain and service it. You can't leave a broken down vehicle in the tunnel until the AA arrives. The congestion it causes is horrific.

But I don't understand:

(1) Why Motorcyclists are exempt? They cause as much pollution as a normal car as they are uncatalysed.

Because we used to (deliberately) take ages to stop, take gloves off, hunt for money, put change away, gloves back on & ride off. Eventually they realised the money wasn't worth the delays to everyone else.

Mobeer

I've been waiting for this for ages and now finally we have a date - 16 November and I can cross for free. Thumbs up for Labour! (for once!)

vikingaero

Mobeer wrote: »

I've been waiting for this for ages and now finally we have a date - 16 November and I can cross for free. Thumbs up for Labour! (for once!)

I don't think NuLab have anything to do with it.

I suspect the reason for the change is that it costs loads to employ all those toll booth operators after hours. They've probably realised that the revenue they receive in the early hours doesn't make it worth employing people.