As the new Dart Charge remote payment
scheme gets underway, figures released by the Highways Agency show that
the proportion of non-payers is twice what was expected.
Whereas an impact assessment of the new scheme
had predicted a 7% failure-to-pay rate, non payment has run at 15% so
far. That works out at 13,500 of the 90,000 users who use the crossing
daily during the charging period (6am to 10pm).
In response, the AA has demanded that the Highways Agency adopt a
lenient approach to non-payers as many drivers will not do this
deliberately. The organisaton added that it welcomed the fact that
during the first few weeks of operation the first penalty charge notice
issued for each vehicle will include a warning letter giving the driver
an extra 14 days in which to pay their original crossing charge without a
penalty and with further crossings made in that vehicle also payable at
the standard rate as long as payment is received within the same 14 day
period.
‘The AA welcomes the improved traffic flow and a more sensitive approach to chasing up non-payment of the charge. However, we received complaints from drivers caught up in traffic jams at roadworks during the festive period,’ said Paul Watters, the AA’s head of roads policy.
‘Although a higher level of non-payment may have been expected at the outset of the scheme, some of the underlining failures of the payment system remain and will have contributed to the 13,500 a day who don’t pay.
‘In particular, a lack of Payzone facilities at relevant motorway service areas (Clacket Lane, Medway, Maidstone), Eurotunnel and Dover port is disappointing for outbound cross-channel drivers.’
Credit: FleetWorld
In response, the AA has demanded that the Highways Agency adopt a
lenient approach to non-payers as many drivers will not do this
deliberately. The organisaton added that it welcomed the fact that
during the first few weeks of operation the first penalty charge notice
issued for each vehicle will include a warning letter giving the driver
an extra 14 days in which to pay their original crossing charge without a
penalty and with further crossings made in that vehicle also payable at
the standard rate as long as payment is received within the same 14 day
period.‘The AA welcomes the improved traffic flow and a more sensitive approach to chasing up non-payment of the charge. However, we received complaints from drivers caught up in traffic jams at roadworks during the festive period,’ said Paul Watters, the AA’s head of roads policy.
‘Although a higher level of non-payment may have been expected at the outset of the scheme, some of the underlining failures of the payment system remain and will have contributed to the 13,500 a day who don’t pay.
‘In particular, a lack of Payzone facilities at relevant motorway service areas (Clacket Lane, Medway, Maidstone), Eurotunnel and Dover port is disappointing for outbound cross-channel drivers.’
Credit: FleetWorld
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