the maoster:
Nothing will happen, no points will magically appear. Put it down to experience and move on o/p.
Are you sure? I suspect the CCTV and measuring logs from the overheight system on the left tunnel provides all the evidence needed for DVSA to show beyond reasonable doubt that the original poster contravened the 4.8m height restriction in force for the left tunnel.
It is immaterial that the original poster had no opportunity to see any temporary signs indicating vehicles over 4.8m (rather than the usual 5.0m) must leave at junction 1b, as there is now a permanent 4.8m height restriction on vehicles entering at junction 1a.
It is immaterial that a Highways Agency Traffic Officer initially escorted the original poster. DVSA likely have all they need to issue the fixed penalty notice from the CCTV cameras and overheight measuring systems.
The original poster indicates the DVSA officer handed him an endorsable fixed penalty notice, offering him the chance to pay a £100 fine and accept 3 points, or elect to have the matter dealt with in court. If 3 points would be a disaster, it might be worth getting legal advice just in case there is some sort of defect in the FPN. Assuming there is no defect in the FPN, the chances of evading a guilty verdict in the magistrates’ court do not seem good.
That’s irrelevant. He passed a height limit sign whilst above the prescribed height, and the evidence about the infringement was presumably gathered by the overheight measuring system after he must have passed at least one 4.8m height limit sign.
You don’t have to bash the tunnel mouth with the headboard of the trailer to contravene the height restriction!
That’s irrelevant. He passed a height limit sign whilst above the prescribed height, and the evidence about the infringement was presumably gathered by the overheight measuring system after he must have passed at least one 4.8m height limit sign.
You don’t have to bash the tunnel mouth with the headboard of the trailer to contravene the height restriction!
Are they prohibition signs (red circle, white background) or some other form of advisory/warning sign though?
That’s irrelevant. He passed a height limit sign whilst above the prescribed height, and the evidence about the infringement was presumably gathered by the overheight measuring system after he must have passed at least one 4.8m height limit sign.
You don’t have to bash the tunnel mouth with the headboard of the trailer to contravene the height restriction!
You can only get done for passing a round mandatory height limit sign which is basically a no entry sign for vehicles over the height shown, dartford crossing doesn’t have those signs, it has a triangle warning height sign, and it is legal to pass these signs even if your over the height shown, and can only get done if you hit the structure!
Blackwall North has round height markers, just passing one in a truck higher than the sign says is an offence.
That’s irrelevant. He passed a height limit sign whilst above the prescribed height, and the evidence about the infringement was presumably gathered by the overheight measuring system after he must have passed at least one 4.8m height limit sign.
You don’t have to bash the tunnel mouth with the headboard of the trailer to contravene the height restriction!
You can only get done for passing a round mandatory height limit sign which is basically a no entry sign for vehicles over the height shown, dartford crossing doesn’t have those signs, it has a triangle warning height sign, and it is legal to pass these signs even if your over the height shown, and can only get done if you hit the structure!
Blackwall North has round height markers, just passing one in a truck higher than the sign says is an offence.
You are wrong. The sign at 1a is a round one. Still not convinced it is compliant with the TSRGD as I think it is 1 circle on an existing directional sign.
You need 2 signs showing the restriction, 1 on each side of the road. Also if it is in a lit area, the sign needs to be illuminated.
The argument then boils down to the question “Is it worth fighting”?
Even if the OP is found not guilty, he would have to have a day off work, travel to Dartford court, pay for representation, parking and the rest… So even if he wins, he loses.
Then, if he is found guilty, the costs will be eye watering, somewhere in the region of £1500 IMO.
If the OP wants proper opinions rather than RDC Bull ■■■■ then I suggest he heads over to Pepipoo
That’s irrelevant. He passed a height limit sign whilst above the prescribed height, and the evidence about the infringement was presumably gathered by the overheight measuring system after he must have passed at least one 4.8m height limit sign.
You don’t have to bash the tunnel mouth with the headboard of the trailer to contravene the height restriction!
You can only get done for passing a round mandatory height limit sign which is basically a no entry sign for vehicles over the height shown, dartford crossing doesn’t have those signs, it has a triangle warning height sign, and it is legal to pass these signs even if your over the height shown, and can only get done if you hit the structure!
Blackwall North has round height markers, just passing one in a truck higher than the sign says is an offence.
You are wrong. The sign at 1a is a round one. Still not convinced it is compliant with the TSRGD as I think it is 1 circle on an existing directional sign.
You need 2 signs showing the restriction, 1 on each side of the road. Also if it is in a lit area, the sign needs to be illuminated.
The argument then boils down to the question “Is it worth fighting”?
Even if the OP is found not guilty, he would have to have a day off work, travel to Dartford court, pay for representation, parking and the rest… So even if he wins, he loses.
Then, if he is found guilty, the costs will be eye watering, somewhere in the region of £1500 IMO.
If the OP wants proper opinions rather than RDC Bull [zb] then I suggest he heads over to Pepipoo
Stand corrected on junction 1a, have they changed them on the tunnel approach as well?
And since when has VOSA been able to issue tickets for a moving traffic offence? Becusae they have never been able to in the past.
Not sure about coming round the 25. I joined from 1a the other day.
DVSA have always been able to issue endorsable penalties. I think it was when they came up with the GFP Price list. Not sure when they got the power to issue moving traffic offence tickets.
That’s irrelevant. He passed a height limit sign whilst above the prescribed height, and the evidence about the infringement was presumably gathered by the overheight measuring system after he must have passed at least one 4.8m height limit sign.
You don’t have to bash the tunnel mouth with the headboard of the trailer to contravene the height restriction!
You can only get done for passing a round mandatory height limit sign which is basically a no entry sign for vehicles over the height shown, dartford crossing doesn’t have those signs, it has a triangle warning height sign, and it is legal to pass these signs even if your over the height shown, and can only get done if you hit the structure!
As part of the Dart Charge free flow tolling works, the Dartford Tunnels now have circular mandatory height limit signs. The signing on the M25 approach can be seen in the Highways England video guide and, as explained in the information for drivers of goods vehicles leaflet, there is also a mandatory 4.8m height limit on all vehicles joining at junction 1a. Putting these restrictions together, it means that any vehicle arriving at the overheight vehicle detection system for the left tunnel must have passed a mandatory 4.8m height restriction, either on the junction 1a slip road to the A282 or on the M25 mainline approaching junction 1a. The vehicle will be extracted as shown in the video guide to the overheight vehicle detection system.
If so, the combination you describe is TSRGD compliant (Schedule 16 Item 31(1) - see the ‘Permitted Variants’ section of the Diagram 2026 page) and need not be lit so long as it is reflectorised (Schedule 17 Item 4(1) - see the ‘Illumination Requirements’ section of the Diagram 2026 page).
taking things at face value op was prob on auto pilot following normal route i got caught out a few months ago i did see the sign but found it confusing too much information on signage to take in i did get pulled over but was given an info sheet and told to go around to junction 1a and come back obviously they have hardened their attitude since then . i wonder what happens if english is not your first language…?
Notimetoulouse:
taking things at face value op was prob on auto pilot following normal route i got caught out a few months ago i did see the sign but found it confusing too much information on signage to take in i did get pulled over but was given an info sheet and told to go around to junction 1a and come back obviously they have hardened their attitude since then . i wonder what happens if english is not your first language…?
Fer christ’s sake, don’t start 'em off on that as well.
Obviously, had this diversion been followed on the night in question, the original poster would then have been directed to leave at junction 1a due to the closure of the east tunnel and being overheight for the west tunnel.
As Notimetoulouse says, it’s easy to drive familiar areas from memory, rather than watching out for changes in the restrictions and road layout.
Now that the new overheight detection system is in operation, which delays other road users heading into the affected tunnel (both tunnels if the overheight detection is on the east tunnel), I suspect that discretion has evaporated. I would not be surprised if an endorseable fixed penalty notice for contravening the traffic sign imposing a mandatory height limit is now the automatic consequence of being detected as overheight unless you dispute being overheight and manual measurement shows that the system triggered incorrectly.
Thank you all for your input. I will appeal but Im not holding my breath. The truth is I was thinking very deeply at that moment about something that was troubling me, and that’s why I missed the signs.
Finally, come to think of it, I should have said my favourite 10 words to this cowboy vosa ■■■■■■■. “I will bring you a glass of water… when I visit you in Hell.”
Tonyshortstraw:
Thank you all for your input. I will appeal but Im not holding my breath. The truth is I was thinking very deeply at that moment about something that was troubling me, and that’s why I missed the signs.
Finally, come to think of it, I should have said my favourite 10 words to this cowboy vosa [zb]. “I will bring you a glass of water… when I visit you in Hell.”
Can you post a copy of the Penalty Notice up minus your personal details reg ect, and I suggest you do what has already been sugested and seek advice on pepipoo before you appeal to the authorities.
Tonyshortstraw:
Thank you all for your input. I will appeal but Im not holding my breath. The truth is I was thinking very deeply at that moment about something that was troubling me, and that’s why I missed the signs.
Finally, come to think of it, I should have said my favourite 10 words to this cowboy vosa [zb]. “I will bring you a glass of water… when I visit you in Hell.”
You can’t appeal a COFP. You either accept it or you don’t.
If you don’t then it’s off to Dartford Magistrate’s
