Stand and Deliver

One of the scheme allegedly under consideration by the government is selling off our motorways and forcing motorists to pay to use them. We are concerned that this could infringing on the rights of people on low incomes and prevent them from having freedom of movement.

An example of how this would work is the The Dartford-Thurrock River Crossing, commonly known as the Dartford Crossing. By removing toll booths and by definition, the jobs of those who manned them. This has resulted in £25 million fines income since Dart Charge was brought in to ease congestion at the crossing by removing the old toll booths.

It is however providing something of a bonanza for the ‘usual suspects’ who come up with these schemes. No since Highwaymen shouted ‘Stand and deliver, your money or your life’ has such a money making wheeze worked out so well. At least Highwaymen had to do the occasional risk assessment. With these scheme it’s legal, lucrative and if you want to cross the Thames this way, pay up or else.  

Dart Charge bosses dished out fines to 4,000 drivers every day in the first three months of the new Dartford Crossing payment system, potentially cashing in on as much as £25 million, it has been revealed.

New figures show the Highways Agency issued more than 350,000 penalty notices from November 30, when the changes were introduced, to March 4.

354,920 PCNs (Penalty Charge Notice) have been issued during the period 30 November 2014 to 4 March 2015. Prior to this period a manual collection system was in place, which has been replaced by Dart Charge, the new charging regime.

2,024 PCNs have been cancelled following confirmation of the incorrect identification of the vehicle, which represents less than 1% of the total issued.”

It would be interesting to see what percentage of non-payers are foreign vehicles - not just Lorries say hacked of regular toll bridge users.

Without the toll booths many drivers will think that there are no charges including people coming from the north who have not been privy to the media coverage that appears to have been focused on Kent, Essex and London say observers.

Edmund King from the RAC has said that the signage is inadequate. I have yet to experience the Dart River Crossing but expect to in a couple of months’ time. ‘Heaven help me’ said Mr King.

Quite we thought wait till we are paying the fat cats to use motorways, taxpayers have already paid for!

Dartford Crossing charges

You must pay for droppable axles whether they’re up or down. Trailer axles aren’t included but semi-trailer axles are.

The HGV levy doesn’t include the Dartford Crossing charge.

You don’t have to pay if you cross with a moped, motorcycle, motor tricycle or quad bike.

You’ll get a Penalty Charge Notice if you don’t pay.

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