What to Do If You Get a Flat Tyre on the Dartford Crossing

The Dartford Crossing — both the QE2 Bridge southbound and the two tunnels northbound — is one of the busiest stretches of road in the UK. Around 180,000 vehicles cross it every day, and there's nowhere safe to stop on either the bridge or in the tunnels themselves. A flat tyre here is a serious safety situation, not just an inconvenience.

1. Don't try to stop on the bridge or in the tunnel

There are no hard shoulders on the bridge deck. The tunnels have refuge bays but limited space. If at all possible, keep moving slowly with hazard lights on until you're past the toll plazas and into a safe area.

2. Get to a safe place to stop

Northbound: the closest safe areas are the lay-bys north of the tunnels on the A282 or the A13 / A1306 slip roads. Southbound: aim for the M25 J1b Dartford services area or the lay-bys on the A282.

3. Call National Highways and us

If you can't move and are stuck in the tunnel or on the bridge, call National Highways on 0300 123 5000 immediately — they will close lanes to protect you. Then call Tyre Rescue on 0330 043 5521 and we'll come to wherever you are once you're safe.

4. Stay out of the car

On the hard shoulder of the A282, get out via the passenger side, climb over the barrier, and wait well back from the carriageway. Don't try to change a wheel yourself with traffic this close.

5. Don't drive on a deflated tyre

Running on a flat tyre destroys the sidewall in seconds and damages the alloy. A repair becomes a replacement, and an alloy refurb is a separate bill. The few hundred metres aren't worth it — wait.

How we help

Our Dartford fitters are local to the Crossing and can usually be with you within 30–45 minutes of your call. We carry a wide range of tyre sizes on the van and can supply, fit, balance and dispose of the old tyre on the spot.

If you're commuting through Dartford regularly, check your tyres weekly. Most blowouts at the Crossing are slow punctures that progressed because they were ignored.