Skip to main content

New traffic safety system at Dartford Crossing

From 13 June a new traffic safety system will be in use on the A282 (M25) northbound approach to the Dartford crossing tunnels. The system will identify and stop oversized vehicles or those carrying dangerous goods from entering the tunnels. It will also enable dangerous goods vehicles to be escorted through the tunnels safely and stop traffic in the event of an incident in the tunnels. Electronic message signs on the approach to the traffic safety system will provide drivers with information relating
May 22, 2015 Read time: 2 mins
From 13 June a new traffic safety system will be in use on the A282 (M25) northbound approach to the Dartford crossing tunnels.

The system will identify and stop oversized vehicles or those carrying dangerous goods from entering the tunnels. It will also enable dangerous goods vehicles to be escorted through the tunnels safely and stop traffic in the event of an incident in the tunnels.

Electronic message signs on the approach to the traffic safety system will provide drivers with information relating to road conditions and safety.

Signs on gantries over the carriageway will display variable speed limits to keep traffic flowing safely, dependant on the road conditions at the time. A red X symbol will show that a lane is closed because of an incident or people working on the road.

Additional electronic message signs will be used in the safety system to give instructions to goods vehicle drivers who have failed to comply with the size and content restrictions of the tunnels.

Traffic signals will be used to stop and direct oversized vehicles, or those carrying dangerous goods that are not approaching the tunnels in the correct lane. The signals will also be used to stop traffic in the event of a tunnel emergency. Red light camera enforcement will also be in use at the traffic signals.

Barriers will be used in conjunction with traffic signals to stop vehicles and enforce crossing restrictions when required.

Average speed camera enforcement will be in use at the Dartford Crossing. Drivers should drive at speeds appropriate to the road conditions and must not exceed the variable speed limits displayed.

Related Content

  • APA supports automated work zone speed enforcement
    July 17, 2015
    A trade association representing the highway construction industry strongly supports automated enforcement of speed limits in work zones and Maryland's experience with a similarly designed program has had very good results, the association head has told a joint Pennsylvania House and Senate committee. According to PennDOT, 24 people were killed in work-zone crashes in 2014, eight more than in 2013. Additionally, there were 1,841 crashes in work zones last year, a slight decrease from the 1,851 crashes
  • Let me hear you, Glastonbury! Oh, and the car park is this way
    June 28, 2023
    SRL takes on traffic management plan for world's largest greenfield music festival
  • ITS asset management matters
    April 26, 2013
    Maintenance of on-road ITS kit needs to become more sophisticated; while new technologies can deliver better road maintenance. David Crawford investigates both sides of the issue "Good information is key to effective ITS asset maintenance,” says Ian Routledge of the Ian Routledge Consultancy (IRC), whose Imtrac (Information Management for TRAffic Control) system is poised for European expansion. Developed as an ‘intelligent filing cabinet’ for storing information about on-road equipment, the online database
  • The delicate issue of pursuing toll evaders
    May 6, 2015
    Toll evaders create major problems for tolling companies – of which lost revenue is only one. Open road tolling maximises roadway capacity but non-payers create enforcement problems Toll road operators are increasingly employing open road or free-flow electronic tolling to minimise travel times.