Driver scared of bridges escorted over Dartford Crossing after satnav leads him astray

3:14pm Monday 4th March 2013 in News By Alan Woods

The Dartford Crossing. The Dartford Crossing.

A DRIVER who is scared of bridges had to be escorted through the Dartford Tunnel by police after his satnav led him the wrong way.

Officers were called to junction 1B of the M25 at 9.30am this morning to the motorist, who had pulled onto the hard shoulder.

After speaking with him, they were told he was unable to proceed into Essex because he suffered from gephyrophobia – an anxiety order brought about by the fear of bridges.

Even though his journey would have seen him pass through the Dartford Tunnel rather than over the Dartford Bridge, the man still said he was unable to continue.

Eventually, a police officer drove the man’s car through the tunnel whilst he was a passenger on board.

More than two hours later, at 11.57am, the man was able to continue his journey.

Inspector Paul Sellwood, of the Kent Police Roads Policing Unit, said: ‘This incident shows how seriously we take all calls we receive from members of the public.

"We always respond and we try to help to the best of our ability.

"Our role is maintaining order and safety on the roads, so if someone is concerned, trapped or scared, it's our job to attend and help and support them wherever we can."

 

Comments(22)

Erith chap says...
4:00pm Mon 4 Mar 13

Haha, what a joker.
Great use of police time.

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Dartbored says...
4:15pm Mon 4 Mar 13

Scared of bridges.

So couldn't go through a tunnel.

I've heard everything now.

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concerned.erith says...
4:36pm Mon 4 Mar 13

Show there is still a use for the ferry!

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madras says...
4:39pm Mon 4 Mar 13

Two hours? Couldn't they just have let him leave by an exit (surely there must be one, eg the staff use) and gone via Blackwall (albeit another tunnel)?

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Only_me!! says...
8:41pm Mon 4 Mar 13

I knew someone who suffered from this, strange but it's very true

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banjo8 says...
9:01pm Mon 4 Mar 13

There are more people who suffer with this than you think. A lot of them hate it if the car is forced to stop on a bridge.
But surely he must have realised that to get to Essex he would have to go on a bridge or a tunnel somewhere!!

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Gypo.Joe says...
9:59pm Mon 4 Mar 13

Never mind the bridge or tunnel FFS, what about Essex !! Now that is scary.

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PaulErith says...
8:23am Tue 5 Mar 13

I knew someone that was scared of bridges....I told them just to get over it! (Doh, I'll get my coat!)

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highway warrior says...
11:01am Tue 5 Mar 13

Why was he using the M25 if he is scared of bridges? You have to go over or under numerous bridges to even get to the crossing!

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simonwebb70 says...
10:46am Wed 6 Mar 13

Should this person even be allowed a drivers license?

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Marty1979 says...
3:32pm Wed 6 Mar 13

Some years ago there was a volunteer organisation that had people who would drive those scared of bridges

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constant voice says...
6:32pm Wed 6 Mar 13

If he was at J1B then why didnt he continue to 1A and pull off there?? He could have drove to Woolwich and got on the Woolwich Ferry but guess he was scared of water too!!

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banjo8 says...
10:30pm Wed 6 Mar 13

A bridge too far. What a non-story.

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franksutton says...
5:42pm Thu 7 Mar 13

Have a look at

http://www.newsshopp
er.co.uk/archive/201
0/06/04/NEWS+Dartfor
d+%26+Gravesham/8201
727.DARTFORD__Campai
gn_to_reinstate_assi
stance_over_Dartford
_Crossing/

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banjo8 says...
9:26am Fri 8 Mar 13

This is incredible, I had no idea. But there's no way these people should be on the road. It's sad, but if you can't drive over bridges give up driving.

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mouthalmighty says...
4:00pm Fri 8 Mar 13

Can anyone think of a route, regardless of distance that will get us from south to north with out crossing the water by foot, bridge, tunnel or ferry. Can it be done?

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banjo8 says...
10:03am Sat 9 Mar 13

No, it can't be done, rivers make this an impossibility.

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nearly right all the time says...
11:08pm Sat 9 Mar 13

For Insp Sellwood read Clouseau!

Having had the misfortune with dealing
with Kent Traffic police, ( the story i could tell would make your hair curl)

This nonsence is to true to type!

who is worst? Police/ or the nervous wreck who should not have been driving!

Did they test for Alcohol/Drugs?

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madras says...
7:12pm Sun 10 Mar 13

mouthalmighty wrote:
Can anyone think of a route, regardless of distance that will get us from south to north with out crossing the water by foot, bridge, tunnel or ferry. Can it be done?
technically, probably not. but if you drove clockwise round m25 i doubt you'd notice

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banjo8 says...
7:28pm Sun 10 Mar 13

If you don't mind bridges you wouldn't notice. If you don't like driving over bridges you shouldn't be on the road. There are enough bad drivers as it is without these sort of numpties too.

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madras says...
9:50am Mon 11 Mar 13

And to be pedantic, per the headline, the driver was not actually escorted OVER the Dartford crossing but THROUGH it...

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banjo8 says...
11:54am Mon 11 Mar 13

Actually, come to think of it, being pantophobic, including tarmac, maybe I should contact Plod to see if I can be chauffeur driven around the place!

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