The number of vehicle registered under the new Dart Charge scheme for travellers utilising the Dartford Crossing has now exceeded the one million mark, the Highways Agency has revealed.

Interest in signing up for the new initiative has been extremely strong since its launch at the end of last month, with early data highlighting a significantly positive benefit of the abolition of toll booths at the structure on delivering smoother traffic flows and lower levels of congestion for all those travelling in the area.

According to the agency's initial data, average journey times for travellers between the hours of 07:00 and 19:00 GMT to date have been reduced by more than nine minutes northbound and by four minutes in the opposite direction.

Dart Charge project director Nigel Gray said: "Dart Charge is off to a fantastic start and I'm really encouraged that more than a million vehicles have been registered for accounts.

"Traffic flow is going well too – there has been a real improvement in journeys – especially southbound where drivers no longer have to stop at a barrier at all."

He added that the change to payment for users of the crossing has been a large one. Therefore, individuals who have failed to make payments under the Dart Charge scheme are for now being given an additional 14 days to settle their debts before any further action is taken.

It is hoped that by giving individuals more time, this will help to offset any confusion surrounding the change in circumstances for Dartford Crossing users, while also ensuring that all those who are expected to pay for the crossings are continuing to do so.

Mr Gray concluded: "We want to give all drivers the opportunity to pay and comply with the scheme."