Going through the pipes at Dartford a great deal lately. I’ve learned that some lanes almost always move quicker northbound. Talking to Sainsbury’s drivers from their depot, they sometimes go south to go north because the queue to go into the tunnel is so bad it’s quicker to do it that way.
We’re all stuck with this ridiculous traffic jam for the foreseeable future.
Any readers top tips on the best way to get through the tunnel quicker than the other guy and emerge smugly triumphant on the north side at least two car lengths in front, feel free to post them here.
There might be a small and extremely cheap prize for the best suggestion.
competiton not open to double decker drivers commie pinkos and tangs
Lane 1 often moves quicker initially but then slows right up as you get level with the checkpoint station on the left and lane 3 speeds up at this point. I always feel it’s a bit of a brass neck to be trying to change lanes for tiny advantages as it gets on my ■■■■ when others do it so I’d feel like a bit of a fanny if I was doing it myself.
Certainly any time I’ve went with lane 1 I pick a truck in lane 3 as a reference point that I arrived in the queue alongside and they usually tend to come out the other side ahead of me.
If your coming south on the m6 then heading onto the m5.
I find if it’s queing for the m5 slip road. Which it tends to a lot .
I found if you stay on the m6 take the next junction it loops you round back onto m6 then keep left onto m5 seeems.a little quicker doing that in my eyes .
Last part of my night run, (after I’ve already done London Gateway, Tamworth and Ashford truckstop) is Ashford back to London Gateway. Tunnel approach seems to differ on a daily basis but I normally get on from A2, straight into lane 2 and pretty much stay there until about 1/2 a mile before decision time, then I’ll nip into lane 3 and go through that tunnel which avoids the traffic coming on from Crossways/Dartford and Erith plus any stops for tunnel escorts.
Half of the congestion on the Dartford tunnel I reckon is down to lane swoppers, I pick a lane, usually #3 for the right hand bore and stick with it. If the traffic is tailed back even to J4 then Its the middle lane until the four lane section, float into lane three and plod on down.
lane 3 but u get all the flpflops flying down 2 and pushing into 3 at last minute.there is going to be a big accident there soon every time i used it last 2 weeks flipflops have tried to pushin nearly causing a accident must give up when they see they can not get in then nearly cause another one by pushing lane 1.its about time they did somethign about the junction and peoples driving actions there
thunder367:
lane 3 but u get all the flpflops flying down 2 and pushing into 3 at last minute.there is going to be a big accident there soon every time i used it last 2 weeks flipflops have tried to pushin nearly causing a accident must give up when they see they can not get in then nearly cause another one by pushing lane 1.its about time they did somethign about the junction and peoples driving actions there
To be fair given that there’s normally a large enforcement presence, restrictions, cameras etc and people still drive like that I’m not sure what other deterrents there could be.
The tunnel is a bloody nightmare!
Everytime I use it idiots in lane 3/4 get through the tunnel and then want the 1 st exit and cut accross the solid white lines, and not a copper in sight.
R/H tunnel usually the best .
If you think it’s bad now it’s going to get much much worse. 4500 more houses in the area will see to that .
Basically all the land behind the RDC for as far as you can see is going to be houses plus about another 2500 houses in the general area . Add in all the other house building planned in the south east that will create not just commuter traffic is all the extra servicing that they will require .
The second crossing can’t happen soon enough .
I had to use it upto 6 times per day in the past , there are some cheats in the area to shortcut the biggest congestions but if I told you I have to kill you !
Use lane 2, gives you the option of continuing past the numpties trying the jam it into lane 1 (where it meets the A206) and merging in just before the 7.5t sign, or nipping into lane 3 and down the right hand tunnel if the lights change for the tankers.
