Drivers using the Dartford Crossing have seen no relief from queues, despite paying higher charges since 1 September, according to new analysis from fleet telematics provider Geotab.
Based on data taken from thousands of commercial vehicle trips, the findings show that total crossings in September made up 11.4% of the year’s volume – almost identical to the January to August average of 11.1%.
Following the fee increases, journey times actually worsened. September recorded the longest average crossing times of the year at 153.6 seconds, with the first week after the hike the slowest of all at 178.4 seconds.
On Thursday 4 September, drivers took more than three minutes to get across; nearly 50 seconds slower than comparable days earlier in the summer.
By the end of the month, conditions improved, with the final week showing the fastest times in five months, but congestion remains worse than it was earlier in the year.
The study also found that essential weekday trips barely shifted, even at higher cost. Only more flexible journeys later in the week were moved into free overnight periods, especially on Fridays and Saturdays.
“The toll rise has had little to no effect on the number of vehicles using the crossing, it simply amplified existing patterns, pushing more flexible trips into the night but leaving peak-hour congestion unchanged,” said Abhinav Vasu, Geotab EMEA associate vice president of solutions engineering.
“Drivers are paying more but still queuing just as long and, in some cases, longer. For many lorry drivers and commuters, the Dartford Crossing is unavoidable, and the toll increases have only added another financial burden.”
Geotab’s analysis also tracked “harsh events” - sudden braking and sharp acceleration – which paint a vivid picture of the crossing’s daily stop-start grind.
In September, the number of harsh events were identical to June’s pre-summer and pre-hike levels.
While drivers accelerated hard less often, incidents of heavy braking stayed high, showing that motorists are still being forced into tailbacks and sudden jams at the same choke points.
“The high number of harsh braking events proves drivers are running into the same bottlenecks day after day,” Vasu added. “The toll rise hasn’t eased that pressure – it’s simply added cost on top of congestion.”
