alcazar

iTrader: (2)

I know it's free, but when I came through it heading North not long back, there were STILL tailbacks, with only about three toll booths open, and the barriers still have to go down, and back up again for each car. Why can't they just be left open?

Is the low number of toll booths open because one of the tunnels was closed for maintenance?

There were also even bigger queues on the bridge, tailbacks of about two miles.
What's THAT all about?

It was a Thursday night around 11pm.

SirFozzalot

They keep the barriers working to slow people down because you know people would tear through them at 50mph otherwise and I know some people's judgment is rubbish and would end up in some horrendous pileups as people hit the islands between the lanes.

chocolate_o_brian

iTrader: (22)

Haha, reminds me of getting into work through the main entrance now.

The whole point of having security barriers was to have them down at all entry points of the 'works at quiet times, then up with the ANPR scanning for car registrations at peak times - so the flow of incoming and outgoing vehicles remains steady.

Nope. Leave work at 10pm last night after a gruelling week and I'm sat whilst some old fart security guard lifts and lowers the barrier on every single vehicle in a 30+ car long que. I think the coffee signs and beeping horns woke him up come about 10-15 cars down.

Oh, and the ANPR machine doesn't even work yet as I've had 4 different unregistered cars on the 'works this year, all getting through without check or question

No wonder the place loses money through theft

tony de wonderful

Not everyone slows.

SirFozzalot

My point exactly.

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

OK, so the barriers then.

What about the NUMBER of booths open? Anyone know?
I'm looking at being there around 2am, going south.

Peedee

iTrader: (4)

Way makes me laugh is how they're always blathering on about how to make that roads leading up to the dartboard crossing (both directions) less congested.

Get rid of the tolls. It's not that difficult. Oh, hang on, that would mean losing money. On second thoughts, lets just keep the congestion on the go.

Leslie

How can anyone be so stupid as to crash like that?

Les

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

AFAIK, didn't Liebour SELL the damned bridge to private enterprise before the election?

If so, we will NEVER see the tolls reduced now, let alone removed....

hodgy0_2

No, nothing to do with labour, it was a early conservative PFI contract

vallumlj

Aren't the tolls going cash less in a few years then they will be removed. You will pay it like the congestion charge.

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

I would LOVE to see that.......

But I bet they don't.

How would they get money from once every few months travellers like me?

trails

iTrader: (41)

be grateful you don't use it regularly...they are going to use ANPR, although I beleive there is still an issue with non-UK plates which is why it's not in place already.

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

And then what?

If my bank account isn't linked to their database, like my doofer is for French Autoroutes, how will they get my money?

I just don't see it.

Anyone know what it's likely to be like at 2am or so, 02/10?

trails

iTrader: (41)

A letter to the registered owner...no idea of the mechanics I just know that's what they are doing...

There is this (I know it's AutoExpress)...

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/car-new...st-ps84million


And this;

http://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/...12-12c.85460.h

hodgy0_2

why should/would it be any different to the london congestion charge

ANPR cameras, and a big fine (with strong collection powers) if you are found to be non compliant

c_maguire

By being born in the USA perhaps.

c_maguire

Exactly. The disproportionate level of the fine means they win either way.
I've ended up registering with TfL even though I only go into the congestion zone perhaps once or twice a month at short notice for breakdown repairs. Having forgotten to pay twice (this was when you had to pay before 10PM on day of travel) and then being fleeced of £120 it was either that or chuck a brick through their office window in Milton Keynes.

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

Never driven my car into London since the CC, so can't comment on that.

So, basically, you cross, they send out a letter?

And that's a HELL of a lot of letters, plus follow ups in case it never got delivered.....

at around 60p per stamp.......

hodgy0_2

any costs will be recovered by the £180 penalty charge

SirFozzalot

You won't get a letter asking for payment. It's down to you to make sure you pay the fee. The only letter you will receive will be the fine if you don't pay.

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

Sorry, I'm not sure how that works?
can someone explain?

Having never paid the CC, I've no idea.

SirFozzalot

If you are going in to the congestion charge zone you have to pay the fee. There are various ways to pay it, online, some newsagents, register an account (frequent users) etc.

It's up to you to remember to pay the fee.

If you go in the zone the ANPR cameras take a picture of your plate if they don't receive a payment relating to that vehicle by the deadline then a fine is generated and sent to the registered keepers address.

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/roadusers/cong...g/default.aspx

They are proposing to use the same system on the Dartford Crossing.

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

DOES it work with foreign plates?

And what's the time allowance? I'm thinking that sometimes I go through and out of the country within an hour, not returning for three months?

What would I do then?