I have to drive over Dartford crossing tomorrow and I hate that bridge

[Enko]

I need to drive over it as adds 1-2 hours to our journey if I don't
However i am still awake worrying about it.

Years ago I drove over it as one of the last cars before they closed due to high winds and I've never forgotten the sensation of the wind aginst the car.

The though fills me w dread

Hi OP, I have to drive over the bridge every day to go to work. It can be scary, sometimes it makes me feel anxious and unwell but not every day. My tips would be to drive in a middle lane as this reduces the wind. I always focus just on the car in front and don’t look up at the top of the bridge or the sides. And I sing loudly!

If it helps I’ve been driving over it every day for 10 years and never been blown off course or anything else nasty.

Also remember that the bridge authorities/ controllers always err on the side of caution and shut the bridge long before wind speed gets too high (but this is very rare), and that there are lots of well rehearsed procedures for getting people off the bridge safely if it ever became necessary.

No high winds forecast. The only thing I hate about the bridge on the rare occasion I use it is that I always forget to pay the sodding dart charge and end up having to pay a fine!

Have some good music on in the car and as other poster has said, just focus on the car in front of you and you’re over it in 60 secs or less!!

I hate road bridges too

we have dart pay on after nearly getting caught 6 month ago so that goes out automatically.

I am seriously tempted to use the Blackwall tunnell but we wil likely hit London around 8 am...

middle lane... singing

Whatever you do, make sure you pay the charge within the time frame. I constantly forget to do it and always pay just outside the limit. I’ve spent £280 on fines this year

Oh I see you have that one covered, I must set that up!

yes was easy to set you that is ot my anxiety thankfully. Oh how I wish they had done another tunnel

You’ll be fine. All you’ve got to do is follow the road ahead.

Ima wimp so I'd do black wall tunnel. Not helpful. 6am it'll be ok?

Hate those bridges. Had to replan an entire USA road trip because I'd had us going over/under the Chesapeake bay bridge/tunnel. Check that bad boy out on google earth and dartford crossing is a breeze

I hate that bridge too, OP. Just seeing it in the distance freaks me out.

Good advice above, middle lane is your friend and loud music/whale music, whichever works for you.

Why do you hate it? I have been over it many times- the only thing I do is keep back from others and leave a gap. Also I don’t really change lanes just pick one and stick to it and follow the road ahead. I quite like looking over to the river when I get to the top- I think the river is cool if you look to the right hand side at the crest

@AriettyHomily

Sadly I can't leave earlier to get to Blackwall tunnel before the rush as I am currently on the stena line ferry from Hook of Holland not sleeping

@nc600 I saw a pictures and video of it last week when looking at YouTube for ways to deal with your fear
They do have a service for people to be driven over it. I saw dartford no longer offers this (and w covid likely wouldn't anyway esp w us having to quarantine)

@Time2change2 the hate stems as I said in op from when I drove over it in wind and rain aboit 19 years ago

The dart charge account is brilliant and has saved my admss many a time.

No high winds forecast, you'll be fine OP

I do need to get over it as da starts Essex uni come October however I could get dh to do the driving when that happens

@Enko ah ok! Well don’t let an unpleasant experience so long ago cause you such anxiety- it’s just a road and you probably just got unlucky with the winds being so bad.

Would definitely not recommend Blackwall Tunnel at that time.. but if you're going up to Essex from Kent won't it be the tunnel?

Other way this time @PolPotNoodle from Essex to Kent

Oh no wait ignore me, you're going to Harwich and down to Kent... in that case the Blackwall will be OK if you really don't fancy it!

I hate it too so you have my sympathy. DH has to drive it, I close my eyes, cover my ears and we all sing. I have to do it once or twice a year and I get very stressed about it.

Will try to sleep and see how I am tomorrow. And I've realised I really do need some therapy about this as I shouldn't be loosing sleep over a bridge

OP I had (and still sometimes do) bouts of driving anxiety start after 10 yrs of driving with no problems. Had CBT to address my anxiety in general and 2 things have definitely helped. You need to focus your mind on something to stop it drifting in to panic mode. If you feel that happening, say out loud things you can see around you (obv not 'the water' 😁) like white van, white car, road, lorry. It centres your thoughts on the present actual situation not the imagined worry. The other thing was deep slow breathing and counting backwards from 10,000, again to give the mind something to focus on. Also window down and music! Would also recommend the 'Headspace' app. Sleep well!