Long Traffic Delays (Dover For Example)

[stoofur]

I'm due to travel to Europe in a couple of weeks on the Eurotunnel. Obviously currently in the news there are reports of delays of six hours plus.

Hopefully this won't be as bad in a couple of weeks especially as I am traveling mid week.

I've never been stuck in traffic like this and I'd like to be as best prepared if possible. Does anyone have any advice or experience of being stuck in traffic like this?

What are the logistics (going to the loo for example). If stuck in traffic like this for so long, do you keep your engine running? It will only be me traveling so at least I won't need to keep my daughter entertained.

Thanks for your advice.

[johnk]

Engine idling for 4 hours doesn't seem like a god idea. Plenty of drinks and snacks. A radio and some other music.
Shouldn'be so bad in a couple of weeks.

[1ozzy]

A bottle to pee in.
Snacks and munchies, a pillow to rest your head on.
Maybe a swag to sleep in.
If you're towing a caravan you should have all of the above.
What you definitely will need is patience.

[satprof]

Mid-week is unlikely to be much of a problem. As an example, according to Google Maps traffic, you could drive straight in to Eurotunnel’s Folkestone terminal with no queueing.

The problem that made Eurotunnel even worse than Dover last weekend is the system put in place to park all the trucks that want to get to Dover or the Tunnel. (Operation Brock, I think it’s called.) It’s a disaster for the tunnel as the only access for cars is via the old A20, whereas access was supposed to be from the M20. This means that pretty well all the roads in that part of Kent are in gridlock if there’s a lot of car traffic, such as most summer Fridays & Saturdays.

It’s about time operation Brock was sorted out. It was first planned as a temporary measure for emergency situations about 25 years ago. A simple field around 1/2 mile square with access to the M20 Eastbound is all that’s needed. Lay it out into lanes, provide toilets and a chain burger joint and you’re done. Truck drivers park in there just as in the ferry ports and have reasonable facilities. They can be released in the sequence of arrival, perhaps with some system of priority if it’s needed.

Why this hasn’t been put in place yet is beyond me. Perhaps the Kent Police are keen on the current overtime arrangements?

[satprof]

^^^ *currently* you can drive straight in.

Google Maps traffic showed up the weekend gridlock very clearly.

[naomi24]

I was stuck on a motorway for 8 hours between two junctions 10 miles apart. Fortunately I didn’t need the loo - others were heading for the fields by the side of the road - but I had my phone so I could contact people, and I had shopping, a book and a newspaper in the car so had something to eat and drink and I read and did some puzzles. Nevertheless it was a truly horrible experience.

I never did reach my destination. When I finally reached the next junction I exited and headed straight for home.

Take food, plenty of water, something to read - and definitely don't leave your engine running.

[1ozzy]

So the road system up there works?

[1ozzy]

Maybe TTT had the right idea, if poor people couldn't afford cars congestion wouldn't be an issue.

[naomi24]

//So the road system up there works?//

When there's a major incident that closes the road, it works the same as everywhere else.

[emmie]

hope you don't get the loonies again, who glue themselves to the road way, as they did on the M25 i think?

[naomi24]

I think they do that on the Essex side of the Dartford Crossing, emmie. I don't know where stoofur is travelling from, but I hope he avoids that too.

[emmie]

they did it again when i was coming back from my brothers on wednesday, we missed them because we travelled a different route, but other cab drivers weren't so lucky.

[naomi24]

I think they did it somewhere on the Kent/Surrey side too recently - near Clacket Lane services maybe?

[emmie]

we were on the Guildford road, heading into London, and did indeed know that some had got caught up in the mess, as they called into my Addison Lee driver to tell him what/where to avoid.

[stoofur]

Thank you everyone for your input. I’m travelling from Bournemouth.
I’ll be honest. I’ve reached an age where going 8 hours without needing the loo is not an option. Also bit worried about if the delay is long and having a nap. How does that work. What if traffic starts moving while napping. And I guess if you are asleep at the wheel (even though stopped) is surely a driving offence.

[naomi24]

Don't worry about falling asleep. Once the traffic gets moving someone will soon wake you up.

I doubt you'll get a ticket for falling asleep anyway - or for using your phone - or for eating and drinking - or for reading a book - or for going for a stroll along the motorway to stretch your legs. You won't be the only one doing any of those things and, in that situation, the police have more important things to think about.

But looking on the bright side, none of it may happen to you. I hope all goes smoothly and I wish you a good journey.

[barry1010]

You can buy pee bottles very cheaply, be sure to have something to drape over your lap. They are much easier to use than a plastic milk bottle.
Don't be tempted to use your mobile phone even with your engine switched off. The law is very clear - you must be parked safely at the side of the road, not in a queue of traffic that might start moving at any time.
Take substantial snacks such as sandwiches as well as lighter snacks and sweets. Don't forget something to drink. If you are on medication, make sure you have it to hand.
Have something to keep you entertained - a book, puzzles - anything you can put down quickly.

[naomi24]

Barry, I can assure you that with hours of nose to tail stationary traffic, the police aren't looking for minor violations. In my experience, people just did what they needed to do - and if that meant using a phone or walking on the motorway that's what they did.

[barry1010]

naomi, I would hope the police would be sympathetic but I wouldn't rely on it, especially as these offences can be picked up by cameras.

I played football on the motorway many years ago and an ice cream van parked on the hard shoulder, selling very welcome ice cream, ice lollies and cold drinks. We were stuck for hours in a heatwave.
I just don't assume that common sense will always prevail

[bhg481]

I think you could argue that if you had been stationary for a long time with your engine turned off and no sign of traffic moving, you were safely parked and safe to use your phone.

[naomi24]

Barry, I honestly think common sense does prevail in those situations. It has to. During my nightmare day, talking to the drivers of neighbouring cars, some were late for business flights and desperately trying to rearrange them, some were missing appointments for jobs and hospitals, some had small children on board with no food or nappies, and I had left my husband, just out of surgery and unable to walk, alone at home for what amounted in total to 12 or 13 hours, so without my phone he wouldn't have had a clue what had happened. So many different human situations - not least that people need the toilet and had no alternative but to leave their vehicles and make for the surrounding countryside - and the police really do understand that. They're also human.