Dart Charge stakeholder newsletter December 2016

elcome to the very I know that there are a number of challenges In the meantime, if you have any queries, please first Dart Charge facing us, and I am working closely with the get in touch by emailing us at W experienced teams in , Quinton and [email protected] stakeholder newsletter. Leeds who provide continued support and expertise. Sarah Green My name is Sarah Green and since April 2016, Head of Dart Charge Service I have been Head of Dart Charge at Highways I have already been out to meet a number of England. Prior to this, I was at Transport for you, and will continue to do so in the future. I’m (TfL) for 12 years, managing the very much looking forward to strengthening our Congestion Charge, Low Emission Zone and valued relationships, promoting engagement Traffic Enforcement contracts and delivery. and providing continued support. We are not complacent and are committed to delivering I have a wealth of customer service experience, ongoing improvements to the service. driving service provider performance, implementing streamlined business processes and delivering out sourced service management. Dart Charge stakeholder newsletter • edition 1 Facts and figures

We have pulled together some of our key figures of interest. Let us know if there is something that you are interested in, and we’ll see if we can make it available for future issues. We manage over Did you know...? Did you know...?

the tunnels are different heights 1.1 million when crosswind speeds hit 75,000 both are business acounts Dart Charge accounts 60mph 4.8m 5.03m 1,430m long 2.5 million VRMs registered 60 or headwind speeds hit on Dart Charge accounts 70mph

we close the bridge at the East Average West journeys Dartford Crossing for safety Tunnel 150,000 closed Tunnel over the Crossing are up to: 4,000 mad are e every hour* s b Did you know...? Did you know...? g y

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need to be in lane need to exit at or before f vehicles per day. In 2016 the busiest o junction 1a as they are not 3 or 4 before 135,000 able to use the crossing junction 1a day was 22nd July 182,571 crossings.* by tru de ck 92.8% a s & m

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r c representative from 01.11.15 to 8 03 31.10.2016 unless otherwise stated 56 5 4.8m+ 15 9

*during all hours

page 2 of 9 Dart Charge stakeholder newsletter • edition 1 Ways to pay the Dartford Crossing

„„ The charging hours are Dartford Crossing between 6am-10pm, 7 days a Road user charges week, 365 days a year.

Vehicle Charges apply (06.00 - 22.00)

„„ The cheapest and most class Vehicle type* Non-account Dart Charge convenient way to pay is using account Motorcycles You don’t have to pay if you a pre-pay account. Visit A cross with a moped, motorcycle, motor tricycle or quad bike. www.gov.uk/pay-dartford- Cars (including trailers), motorhomes, passenger vans and buses with less £2.50 £1.67 crossing-charge to view all B charge than 9 seats charge per crossing account options. per crossing 2 axle goods vehicles C (including vans) £3.00 £2.63 charge charge per crossing „„ Alternatively, you can make per crossing one-off payments in advance Multi-axle goods vehicles £6.00 £5.19 D charge or by midnight the day after charge per crossing per crossing crossing. Please see table for *For a full breakdown of vehicle types in each class see the vehicle classification table www.gov.uk/highways/dartford charges (right).

page 3 of 9 Dart Charge stakeholder newsletter • edition 1 Contact Dart Charge

Opening hours for Dart Charge Customer Service – Monday to Sunday 5am to midnight (including bank holidays).

We will be operating at reduced hours during the Christmas period. The contact centre will be closed Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

� social media: follow us on Twitter Contact us by: and Facebook

@DartCharge www.facebook.com/dartcharge „„ phone: 0300 300 0120 from outside the UK: +44 (0) 300 300 0120

„„ email: [email protected]

„„ write to: Dart Charge Customer Service, PO BOX 842, Leeds, LS1 9QF

page 4 of 9 Dart Charge stakeholder newsletter • edition 1 Commercial customers

We offer a dedicated fleet email address to help with queries, please email [email protected] or you can call the Fleet Team on +44 300 300 0120 for advice on how to register your vehicles and manage your account.

Safety advice for drivers using the Dartford Tunnel:

„„ never stop in the tunnel (except in an emergency)

turn your radio on (for traffic announcements)

„„ observe and obey signals – never drive in a closed lane

„„ use dipped headlights

„„ do not turn or reverse

„„ switch off engine if stopped for more than 1 minute

The following link provides further safety advice and information for drivers using the tunnels: safety advice for drivers using the Dartford Crossing

page 5 of 9 Dart Charge stakeholder newsletter • edition 1 Leaflets

We have leaflets available on how to pay including the multi lingual leaflet. These can be used to distribute to your customers to help inform and advise. If you would like more information How to pay Dartford Crossing Dart Charge Road User Charges and copies of these, please contact:

Location Charges apply for crossings made between 6am and 10pm. It is free to [email protected] use the Crossing between 10pm and 6am. Cars (including trailers), £2.50 motorhomes, passenger Charge vans and buses with Dart Charge is paid in advance or by midnight per crossing The A282 Dartford Crossing links the day after crossing. If you fail to pay you less than 9 seats Waysthe M25to contact motorway between Dartford will receive a Penalty ChargeHow Notice. to pay Online atin and inOver . the phone 2 axle goods £3.00 www.gov.uk/dart-charge +44 (0)300 300 0120 Paying Dart Charge is easy. Youto can use pay: the vehicles Charge It crosses the east of (including vans) per crossing Write to us DartLondon. Charge Customer Service PO Box 842, Leeds LS1 9QF • online – www.gov.uk/dart-chargeM25 Dartford

4 Multi-axle £6.00 A12 A127 • by phone – 0300 300 0120Crossing / Charge 29 Basildon goods vehicles +44 (0) 300 300 0120 per crossing Dagenham M25 A13 A12 A13 Dartford • at retail outlets which display this 30 Blackwall Crossing symbol You can save up to Do you use the Dartford Crossing? Tunnel a third by setting up a Dart Charge account You don’t have to pay if you You’ll need to read this. LONDON A2 cross with a moped, motorcycle, 2 www.gov.uk/dart-charge motor tricycle or quad bike. A20 A282 A2 www.payzone.co.uk/store-locator Benutzen Sie die Dartford Crossing? 1 3 Rochester 2 Dann lesen Sie bitte weiter.. Orpington M25 M2 oydon M20 • or in advance by post.* 4 ¿Utiliza usted el Dartford Crossing? For a full breakdown of vehicle types in 2 3 4 Entonces debe leer esta información. M26 2a You can set up a pre-pay account and save each class see the vehicle classification 5 M20 A23 up to a third on every crossing. Sevenoaks table www.gov.uk/highways/dartford M25 A21 Czy korzystasz z przejazdu Dartford Crossing? 6 Or our pay as you go service allows you to Powinieneś to przeczytać. For more information about Dart Charge fi nd register your vehicle and payment details so you can automatically payLONDON Dart Charge each *To pay by post: Utilizați Dartford Crossing? Dart Charge Customer Services Utilizați Dartford Crossing? us at www.gov.uk/highways/dartford time you use the Crossing. PO Box 842, Leeds LS1 9QF. Va trebui să citiți aceste informații. Go online to download a payment form or call to request one. @DartCharge Utilisez-vous le Dartford Crossing? Si oui, lisez ce qui suit. Wayswww.facebook.com/dartcharge to pay Dart Charge: Utilizza il Dartford Crossing? www.gov.uk/dart-charge by post (in advance only):

Creative Guildford S160068 Dart Charge Customer Services Allora deve leggere queste informazioni. 0300 300 0120 PO Box 842, Leeds LS1 9QF. +44 (0) 300 300 0120 Go online to download or call Ползвате ли Dartford Crossing? www.payzone.co.uk/ to request a payment form Ще трябва да прочетете това. Store-Locator

Subscribe for updates online Užíváte Dartford Crossing? www.facebook.com/dartchargewww.gov.uk/highways/dartford@DartCharge www.gov.uk/highways/dartford Musíte si přečíst následující.

Használja a Dartford Crossing-ot? HE Guildford Creative S160108 Ezt el kell olvasnia.

page 6 of 9 Dart Charge stakeholder newsletter • edition 1 Driving in hazardous conditions

We are prepared for the forthcoming winter – and we want road users to make sure they are prepared too. When crosswind Safety in rain and strong winds speeds hit 60mph or headwind speeds hit „„ Braking time and distance is doubled when the road is wet – slow down and maintain a safe distance. 70mph we close the bridge at the Dartford „„ Losing grip or aquaplaning on surface water – take your foot off the accelerator to slow down. Do not brake or Crossing for safety steer suddenly because you have less control of the steering and brakes.

„„ Driving through a flooded road – drive slowly, use a low gear and try to keep the engine revving at a high rate. Move forward continuously to avoid stalling the engine. When driving an automatic vehicle, engage and hold in a low gear. And remember to test your brakes after driving through water; they may be ineffective.

„„ Use dipped headlights – so that other drivers can see you more easily.

„„ Likely to be blown off course – when travelling empty or carrying a lighter load. Curtain sides should be opened when empty, so there is less to catch the wind.

„„ You are likely to be more affected by high winds and sometimes roads or bridges will be closed to high-sided vehicles. issue alerts specifically for the freight industry, identifying vulnerable locations. An amber alert means take extra care. A red alert means park up and wait for conditions to improve.

For further information on driving in heavy rain and strong winds please click the following link: Get ready for Winter

page 7 of 9 Dart Charge stakeholder newsletter • edition 1 Safety in snow and ice

Be informed – so that you can plan for bad Empty curtain-sided trailers are less likely to get Stick to the main roads – where you can weather. The Met Office produces specific blown over if you open the sides when driving in and avoid exposed routes. weather forecasts for the Highways England windy conditions. network. Use this link for the most up-to-date For more information please visit: Winter information including special alerts for high sided Overnight stops – if you are sleeping in a Safety or the cross government campaign vehicles: Specific Weather Forecasts for the cab make sure you are well prepared for the can be located on the Met Office website: Highways England Network. night time temperatures. Take all the blankets, Get ready for Winter flask and sleeping bag with you even if you are Be prepared – carry all the equipment you not planning an overnight stop – just in case you will need and do not be tempted to rush pre- get stuck. journey checks of your vehicles.

Seen and be seen – ensure all windows, lights, plates and reflective markings are clean and clear of ice.

Stick to the main roads – where you can and avoid exposed routes.

Advice for HGV drivers

Take care getting in and out of the cab – remember the 3 points of contact rule when climbing up to a cab. Be careful not to jump down onto what could be a slippery surface.

Check the loading – ensure your load is stable and the weight is evenly distributed.

page 8 of 9 Dart Charge stakeholder newsletter • edition 1 Feedback

As a valued customer any suggestions for future publications of this newsletter would be most welcome. Please contact us at [email protected] Merry

& a Happy New Year

fromfrom thethe DartfordDartford ChargeCharge TeamTeam

If you need help accessing this or any other Highways England information, please call 0300 123 5000 and we will help you. www.highways.gov.uk

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