[Jonsav123]

Can anyone tell me what the lighting is like in the Dartford Tunnel?
I ask because recently I drove through the blackwall tunnell from Kent to Essex and I thought that the lighting was pretty poor and so I am wondering if the Dartford is any better as I have to make that trip again soon.
Thank you.

[Lily]

Hi there @Jonsav123 and welcome the RAC Community. I used to live in South East London and I used to drive quite often through and they have similar lighting. Mind you, I haven't been in Dartford tunnel in 3 years so maybe things have changed.

Maybe another member can share their personal experience? Does anyone live in Kent or Essex or travel there frequently?

[olduser]

Try;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chcqKo8h0S0

But the lighting is not a problem, follow the Highway Code and put your lights on!

[Rolebama]

Last time I used it was 30yrs ago, and I don't remember any lighting problem, which inclines me to agree with olduser above.

[Santa]

Perhaps the OP should have used the free ferry.

I have been through all three tunnels, and they are all well-lit. I once got pulled over approaching the northbound Blackwall tunnel for being too tall. There is a detector and lights to direct you up a slip road if you are over height. Not entirely my fault, as the markings were wrong. Incidentally, the Northbound tunnel is wider than the Southbound one because it was constructed thirty years later.

Rotherhithe is scary. There are two bends (Apparently so horses wouldn't see the exit too soon), and the lanes are very narrow. No lorries allowed, but there are some big vans.

[Jonsav123]

@Santa Thanks for all the helpful replies. Santa, could I ask you, is it the Dartford tunnel from Kent to Essex that is a bit wider? Many thanks.

[NMNeil]

Originally Posted by Santa

I have been through all three tunnels, and they are all well-lit. I once got pulled over approaching the northbound Blackwall tunnel for being too tall. There is a detector and lights to direct you up a slip road if you are over height.

Ever heard of our can opener bridge?
Even with flashing lights and a huge flashing sign saying "OVER HEIGHT MUST TURN', it made no difference.😁

[Rolebama]

When I worked as a Plant Fitter I was asked to drive a mobile crane back to the yard. It was very heavy, and, with a fixed jib, quite tall. I had to take a route completely unknown to me. First stop was when I came across a low bridge I had no chance of fitting under. As I was trying to get cars behind me shifted so I could reverse back, a PC came along. He radioed in and got a car to come and help. They sorted my mess out, and told me to follow them to a suitable bridge, and gave me directions avoiding any further problems. This was in the Guildford area. Their directions got me to Windsor Great Park, which I knew, so didn't foresee any further problems. I had never realized just how many low and light load bridges there were around the yard area. With causing havoc at the sites of three bridges, I finally rolled into the yard after about five hours on the road. Not bad for what was usually an hour's drive.
PS. When I bought my first satnav, I discovered a website where you can download info on just about every bridge in the country as a POI. Guess who's had them on every satnav since.

[Santa]

Sadly, some lorry drivers in the UK are also prone to hit bridges. All bridges under 16 6" are clearly marked, so there is no excuse.

On the other hand, I frequently took a truck that I measured at 12'9" under a 12'9" bridge. In the UK, the height on the sign is always lower than the true height, but the sign is mandatory, and it is unlawful for an overheight vehicle to pass one of these signs.

As I approached the bridge, a big flashing "TOO HIGH" sign would light up. Obviously, the detector beam was set too low.

[Santa]

@Rolebama, you can buy a satnav specifically for people with large vehicles. You enter the vehicle's height and weight, and it will calculate routes that avoid low bridges and weight limits.

Of course, this presupposes that the driver knows the height in the first place...:(

[JamieGen]

That's a helpful consensus! Good to know that most people find the Dartford Crossing tunnels (and Blackwall/Rotherhithe, for comparison) to be generally well-lit, especially with headlights on.