by David Bates
Vague road sign confuses countless drivers
An AA-Populus poll has revealed that a significant proportion of drivers are unaware of the Dart Charge scheme at the Dartford crossing.
The Dartford crossing, which traverses the Thames on the eastern side of the M25, is marked by a white C within a red circle which is identical to central London’s congestion charge emblem.
The results of an AA-Populus poll undertaken in June have revealed 87 per cent of London drivers and 70 per cent of those in the South East are confused by the signage around Dartford.
The ‘C’ sign used to notify drivers of Dart Charge is not officially recognised as a symbol for tolls, which is only amplifying drivers’ bewilderment. Only six per cent of the 25,810 AA members questioned recognised the ‘C’ as a general sign for charging schemes.
A different survey in May demonstrated a similar predicament. 28 per cent of Londoners, 27 per cent of those in the South East and an astonishing 53 per cent of drivers in the East Midlands were unaware of the charge. The area of highest awareness was in Essex and East Anglia, where 82 per cent knew about Dart Charge.
Paul Watters, AA’s of road policy, warned against the confusion created by the vague ‘C’ sign, saying: “presenting drivers who are unfamiliar with the Dartford stretch of the M25 with a puzzle, while they are supposed to be concentrating on a busy road, is very poor.”
Have you used the Dart Charge system? What do you think of it?
