AVERAGE speed cameras went live on the Dartford Crossing on Thursday (June 28).

Cameras will now enforce the 50mph speed limit on both the clockwise and anti-clockwise stretch of the M25.

Travelling from Kent to Essex, the cameras will begin at junction 2 for the Darenth Interchange and will continue up until the tunnels.

In the clockwise direction, they will operate between junction 31 in Essex and the toll booths on the Kent side of the bridge.

The cameras record motorists' speed each time they pass under them and calculates the average speed.

Highways Agency asset manager Clive Cooper said: “Maintaining consistent speeds on the approaches to the crossing will help to make journeys more reliable, by keeping traffic moving and reducing stop-start traffic at peak times and during and after incidents.”

Dartford MP Gareth Johnson added: “I don’t think we need any other measures to slow traffic down.

“Speeding traffic has never been a problem at the Dartford Crossing.”

Dartford Crossing Commuter & Reporter Alan Woods thinks:

I agree with Gareth Johnson on this one.

Surely, on the rare occasions traffic on the Dartford Crossing does allow me to drive at more than 50mph, I shouldn’t be penalised to do so?

I don’t believe the logistics of the average speed cameras are right for the bridge and if anything, they will make it a more dangerous driving environment.

In the days since the cameras went live, I’ve noticed a detrimental effect on morning traffic travelling from Essex to Kent.

With the risk of a speeding ticket looming, motorists are dropping their speed to well below 40mph to avoid being penalised. In turn, this is causing impatient drivers to overtake the slower moving vehicles and it’s my opinion this will only increase the risk of collision.

I believe the only way the cameras could successfully operate is if there were further restrictions in place, prohibiting motorists from changing lane, as are used in the Blackwall Tunnel.

And as a final point, I’d whole-heartedly agree with those who took to Twitter this week to suggest the cameras are just another way of raking in cash from the motorist, in what is already a significant money-grabbing scheme.