What happens if you cross the Severn Bridge but have no cash
Discussion
sclayto2 said:
Pigeon said:
deevlash said:
or when you get to the m6 tolls for the first time ever with your cash ready and discover its a card machine and your card is in your jacket on the back seat under a suitcase...
Are you saying you can't pay the M6 toll with proper money? Balls to me ever using that then.This reminded me of a form of protest I have been mulling over for some time. Get a bunch of cars (the more the better) to drive down a toll road, arrive at the toll booth than say "oh crap, no cash", it was an idea for the Humber Bridge price rise but no one I talked to seemed interested in taking part.
I think it'd be funny for hundreds, if not thousands of cars to roll up to the booths and clog it up. Could be because I am still quite juvenile. It isn't like it'd be an effective protest as they never are, but would still be quite humorous.
I think it'd be funny for hundreds, if not thousands of cars to roll up to the booths and clog it up. Could be because I am still quite juvenile. It isn't like it'd be an effective protest as they never are, but would still be quite humorous.
sclayto2 said:
It doesn't require you to enter a PIN number. The one time I used it, my card got cloned and someone ran up £400 in phone topups and take-a-ways over the weekend in Birmingham. That the toll doesn't need a PIN is irrelevant, isn't it? Stick to using cash there.
How do you know it was cloned at the toll? That the toll doesn't need a PIN is irrelevant, isn't it?There are lots of other places, and ways, this could have be done. In fact, I'd be very surprised if the whole toll system is compromised, given it's a huge purpose-built machine, with no direct human interaction.
The UK is so prehistoric when it comes to toll bridges. In Hong Kong for instance, you have an electronic 'ticket' attached to your windscreen and simply drive through priority lanes which charges your account for each crossing, and you just settle the bill online each month. Drivers paying with cash often queue so it's a disincentive.
Even better in Scotland where tolls have been abolished on all bridges.
Even better in Scotland where tolls have been abolished on all bridges.
Matt UK said:
If it happens to you at the Dartford Toll and I'm roght behind you, you're likely to see someone jump out of his car, throw £1.50 into the coin bin.
Happened to me earlier this month. I was late, the meeting was important to me and using some loose change to get the useful cashless fecker in front out of the way was money well spent.
Plus it gave me a warm feeling that I'd helped someone who was obviously getting a bit streesed.
dartford is £1.50 now? when did that go up?Happened to me earlier this month. I was late, the meeting was important to me and using some loose change to get the useful cashless fecker in front out of the way was money well spent.
Plus it gave me a warm feeling that I'd helped someone who was obviously getting a bit streesed.
Nano2nd said:
Matt UK said:
If it happens to you at the Dartford Toll and I'm roght behind you, you're likely to see someone jump out of his car, throw £1.50 into the coin bin.
Happened to me earlier this month. I was late, the meeting was important to me and using some loose change to get the useful cashless fecker in front out of the way was money well spent.
Plus it gave me a warm feeling that I'd helped someone who was obviously getting a bit streesed.
dartford is £1.50 now? when did that go up?Happened to me earlier this month. I was late, the meeting was important to me and using some loose change to get the useful cashless fecker in front out of the way was money well spent.
Plus it gave me a warm feeling that I'd helped someone who was obviously getting a bit streesed.
EDIT: Wrong..
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/7728915.st...
Edited by Jonny671 on Monday 11th May 18:50
Nano2nd said:
Matt UK said:
If it happens to you at the Dartford Toll and I'm roght behind you, you're likely to see someone jump out of his car, throw £1.50 into the coin bin.
Happened to me earlier this month. I was late, the meeting was important to me and using some loose change to get the useful cashless fecker in front out of the way was money well spent.
Plus it gave me a warm feeling that I'd helped someone who was obviously getting a bit streesed.
dartford is £1.50 now? when did that go up?Happened to me earlier this month. I was late, the meeting was important to me and using some loose change to get the useful cashless fecker in front out of the way was money well spent.
Plus it gave me a warm feeling that I'd helped someone who was obviously getting a bit streesed.
Carpie said:
This reminds me, I was so annoyed by a woman in the toll booth a few weeks back. I was in the car and chatting on the phone. It was quiet, going slowly into the booths and I like to think I'm able to talk on the phone and drive.
She took my money, gave me my change, and then the cheeky b
h goes "and how about a fine and points on your licence?"
I was so annoyed, I don't need some bloody 40 year old woman who's managed to achieve nothing and is still doing a stty job at her age to tell me what to do.
The same thing happened a few weeks ago, I was in tesco, and the woman says "Do you have your own bags?" I say "Nope" and the chopsy, self righteous biatch... Shakes her head at me. I was so wound up. I told her that I'd make up my own mind about how I recycle, not be told what to do from women being paid minimum wage to push food through a laser.
I think people on tills need to learn their place, that they're there to serve me, be polite and not lecture me.
You need to calmly remind them that they are paid from the neck down! So wind it!!She took my money, gave me my change, and then the cheeky b
h goes "and how about a fine and points on your licence?"I was so annoyed, I don't need some bloody 40 year old woman who's managed to achieve nothing and is still doing a s
tty job at her age to tell me what to do.The same thing happened a few weeks ago, I was in tesco, and the woman says "Do you have your own bags?" I say "Nope" and the chopsy, self righteous biatch... Shakes her head at me. I was so wound up. I told her that I'd make up my own mind about how I recycle, not be told what to do from women being paid minimum wage to push food through a laser.
I think people on tills need to learn their place, that they're there to serve me, be polite and not lecture me.
The last two times I've been through the tolls on the Severn Bridge, the fecking coin bin malfunctioned. All the coins were spot on, (counted out by Mrs Zep before the journey even) and in decent nick.
An alarm thing went on and I had to have an argument with some cock in a uniform that it was his machine not my criminality causing the problem.
He put some sort of cloth bag thing on the bonnet of the car (signalling what to whom?) and I drove off leaving it blowing down the road in my slipstream.
An alarm thing went on and I had to have an argument with some cock in a uniform that it was his machine not my criminality causing the problem.
He put some sort of cloth bag thing on the bonnet of the car (signalling what to whom?) and I drove off leaving it blowing down the road in my slipstream.
Out of interest with the Dartford crossing now being free overnight, why don't they just leave the barriers up? Seems a bit daft to stop every car, then raise the barriers for them. Shirley it would save a lot of energy not having to raise and lower the barriers, plus the reduced congestion and emmissions from the cars having to stop and accelerate away again.
sniff diesel said:
Out of interest with the Dartford crossing now being free overnight, why don't they just leave the barriers up? Seems a bit daft to stop every car, then raise the barriers for them. Shirley it would save a lot of energy not having to raise and lower the barriers, plus the reduced congestion and emmissions from the cars having to stop and accelerate away again.
Probably as a speed thing, rather than people just shooting through at 70mph 
deevlash said:
or when you get to the m6 tolls for the first time ever with your cash ready and discover its a card machine and your card is in your jacket on the back seat under a suitcase...
Always paid cash on M6 toll, chuck it in the bucket thingy, maybe you went through the card lane only, guessing?Went over the toll in Dundee some years ago, and genuinly coudn't find the tenner I had, guy said, no worries, carry on. Found it later, had slipped out of my pocket and under the seat.
Digressing slightly, flew SAS Aberdeen to Stavangar on Sunday, have to buy your own coffee and sarnies on the flight, they said "We dont take coins", what on earth next?
Edited by Vipers on Monday 11th May 19:45
Jonny671 said:
sniff diesel said:
Out of interest with the Dartford crossing now being free overnight, why don't they just leave the barriers up? Seems a bit daft to stop every car, then raise the barriers for them. Shirley it would save a lot of energy not having to raise and lower the barriers, plus the reduced congestion and emmissions from the cars having to stop and accelerate away again.
Probably as a speed thing, rather than people just shooting through at 70mph sniff diesel said:
Jonny671 said:
sniff diesel said:
Out of interest with the Dartford crossing now being free overnight, why don't they just leave the barriers up? Seems a bit daft to stop every car, then raise the barriers for them. Shirley it would save a lot of energy not having to raise and lower the barriers, plus the reduced congestion and emmissions from the cars having to stop and accelerate away again.
Probably as a speed thing, rather than people just shooting through at 70mph I'm not sure what the limit is, I just stick to it.. Can't be doing with points on my licence as i'm still on my 2 years probation from passing
But I see it as a good way of slowing people down really.
Tunnel under the Mersey is £1.40 each way and the story was that the debt was paid off in the 80s but Merseytravel, the owners of the tunnels, keep borrowing against the tunnels for other initiatives which means we still pay. So their failed £80m spend on the tram plans and the recent purchase of the Beatles Story is being paid for by us poor folk !
Anyone tried this one?
George Carlin: Here's another little practical joke for the driver. When you're going through the tollbooth.
[pause]
George Carlin: Well, not actually *through* the booth itself. That would be a BIG practical joke!
[laughter]
George Carlin: I mean when you're going through the little space in between the booths; when you get up the window and the man sticks out his hand, bargain with him!
[laughter]
George Carlin: Try to get yourself a better deal. Tell him you heard it was "Free Chevrolet Day".
[laughter]
George Carlin: Tell him it's a used road and you're looking for a discount!
[laughter]
George Carlin: Tell him you have no money, you spent it all on pussy and beer.
[laughter]
George Carlin: That'll wake him up; especially if you're a woman!
George Carlin: Here's another little practical joke for the driver. When you're going through the tollbooth.
[pause]
George Carlin: Well, not actually *through* the booth itself. That would be a BIG practical joke!
[laughter]
George Carlin: I mean when you're going through the little space in between the booths; when you get up the window and the man sticks out his hand, bargain with him!
[laughter]
George Carlin: Try to get yourself a better deal. Tell him you heard it was "Free Chevrolet Day".
[laughter]
George Carlin: Tell him it's a used road and you're looking for a discount!
[laughter]
George Carlin: Tell him you have no money, you spent it all on pussy and beer.
[laughter]
George Carlin: That'll wake him up; especially if you're a woman!
sniff diesel said:
Jonny671 said:
sniff diesel said:
Out of interest with the Dartford crossing now being free overnight, why don't they just leave the barriers up? Seems a bit daft to stop every car, then raise the barriers for them. Shirley it would save a lot of energy not having to raise and lower the barriers, plus the reduced congestion and emmissions from the cars having to stop and accelerate away again.
Probably as a speed thing, rather than people just shooting through at 70mph hman said:
yup, another one here who got escorted back to england to go to a cashpoint as the useless booth operators havent got a card facility at the welsh border.
Idiots.
They shut ll the barriers, a pickup truck comes out, escorts you onto the opposite carriageway, back you go to a cashpoint near a railway station.
So effectively I go over the bridge twice but only pay once, which ever way you look at it I win a free trip over the bridge.
Silly really..
How are the toll booth operators idiots? They don't make the rules. Blame the French who operate the bridge in league with the government.Idiots.
They shut ll the barriers, a pickup truck comes out, escorts you onto the opposite carriageway, back you go to a cashpoint near a railway station.
So effectively I go over the bridge twice but only pay once, which ever way you look at it I win a free trip over the bridge.
Silly really..
I have a friend that works on the tolls and she has to put up with morons who can't read the clearly visible signs and then try to blame everyone else for their own stupidity when they are not let through "for free".
Then there are the people who "don't have any money" , until they realise that they will "turned around" and then miraculousy find they have, "just enough" funny that isn't it?
As for people using mobile phones, have you noticed the concrete barriers? how would you like to be sat in a box in the middle of a 50mph road hoping people will stop? I would like to think that driver would have 100% concentration when approaching little old me sat in my box. So you admit to using your mobile while driving do you and what would your name be?
A few years ago before the barriers were installed an unmanned booth was destroyed. Oh yes, that's the reason for the 50 limit by the way. Watch out for the camera van that's on the fly-over just before the bridge.
A free trip only counts if you manage to get past the turn around fly-over.
"Idiots", not the toll collectors my friend.
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