The Department for Transport has promised to look at using new technologies in order to improve congestion at the Dartford crossing reports RoadHaulage.Com.
Mike Penning, parliamentary under-Secretary of State for Transport, has not ruled out the removal of the tolls at the Dartford to Thurrock Thames crossing and collecting the charge electronically.
While he would not commit to a full consultation into changing the way the £3.70-per-crossing charge for multi-axle goods vehicles is collected, he did say: “I have asked for further advice from officials on the costs, possible funding sources and benefits of options to improve the performance of the Dartford Crossing, such as the use of newer charging technologies.”
A spokeswoman for the Road Haulage Association says it supports any technology which “improves efficiency, reduces congestion and improves emission levels”.
Even better way to improve the crossing would be to take away the toll all together, the crossiong has been paid for many time now and it is just a cash cow now.
The toll booths are the major cause of the tail-backs that are faced on the M25 and joining motorways.
Lambo, £40+m a year in these hard times goes to the Treasury, will not see the toll fees withdrawn.
Glad to see its not being sold off, but need to get the HA managing the way the tolls are operated.
Many may not have noticed, but since September 2009, the HA went for a penalties and prizes contract, now the operator has reduced staffing levels across the board and works on a ‘Less is More’ profile, meaning the service levels to the travelling public are way down the list. Hence the congestion building and more and more delays are inevitable.
Especially when tunnels are closed to top up potholes, more than once for the same potholes at peak times.