Transport for London have been trying to stop drivers breaking down in Blackwall Tunnel because they have run out of fuel.

Approximately 20 per cent of breakdowns in 2015 were caused by drivers running out of fuel while inside the Blackwall Tunnel.

TfL estimates that cars running out of petrol and lorry drivers unaware their vehicles are too high cost the capital city £7m and result in nearly 400 hours of delays each year.

With 36m drivers each year driving through the tunnel regularly hitting two mile tailbacks, delaying their journey by half an hour or more, TfL have been looking for any method to try stop these breakdowns.

One method the transport organisation has tried is working with traffic app Waze to alert people entering the tunnel to make sure they have enough petrol first. Over a six month test period, 459 drivers acted on the fuel message and re-routed to fuel up.

TfL also worked with Eurotunnel to give drivers information upon entering the UK in ten different languages about the height limits in Blackwall Tunnel.

After the new measures were introduced, there was also a reduction in the number of tunnel breakdowns compared to the same period last year, according to TfL.

Finlay Clark, UK head of Waze, said: “For Blackwall Tunnel, we provided drivers with the option to reroute to the nearest petrol station before entering the queues, resulting in fewer breakdowns and reduced congestion there.

“We look forward to applying the same method used for Blackwall to help solve other traffic problems here in London and across the UK.”

TfL has developed proposals to build the Silvertown Tunnel on the Greenwich Peninsula, but face significant opposition due to air pollution concerns. A deadline for decision by the Planning Inspectorate on whether to approve the plans has been set for May 10, 2018.