Foreign drivers must be pursued for unpaid toll charges, says FTA

The Freight Transport Association (FTA) is calling for drivers who don’t pay the Dart Charge to be pursued as actively as those in the UK.

The plea comes following a Freedom of Information request by BBC Radio Kent which revealed that almost a quarter of foreign registered vehicles are failing to pay the charge for using the Dartford Crossing.

Only 77.1% of foreign drivers pay first time, according to the figures. Barriers at the crossing were removed in November 2014 and the electronic Dart Charge system replaced pay booths.

Natalie Chapman, FTA's head of policy for London and the South East, said: "Removing the tolls has reduced congestion, which can only be good for traffic flow and the environment.

"But all vehicles, wherever they are based, should be paying the charge and should be pursued for non-payment. Otherwise, what starts off as a relatively small problem of non-compliance can quickly grow to a big problem and that creates an uneven playing field for UK operators."