* A queue is defined by the source as a road segment with an average travel speed below 10 kilometers an hour.
The exact date of survey is not provided, however the research was commissioned by the BBC for programming with a broadcast date of March 12, 2018.
The source adds the following information: "The research was carried out by Dr Ke Han of the Centre for Transport Studies, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Imperial College London.
Citation formats
Length of traffic queue from Eurotunnel to Dover UK 2018, by customs check time
This statistic presents the estimated length of traffic queues on the M20 and A20 motorways from Eurotunnel to Dover in the United Kingdom, by length of customs check. As of 2018, customs checks take an average of two minutes, leading to peak traffic queues which are almost ten miles long. With Britain set to leave the European Union in March 2019, it is possible that customs checks may take longer, which could create 40 mile long traffic queues in the worst-case scenario.
Profit from the additional features of your individual account
Currently, you are using a shared account. To use individual functions (e.g., mark statistics as favourites, set
statistic alerts) please log in with your personal account.
If you are an admin, please authenticate by logging in again.
Learn more about how ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ can support your business.
Imperial College London. (May 31, 2018). Estimated length of peak time traffic queue along the M20 and A20 in the United Kingdom (UK) as of 2018, by length of custom check* (in miles) [Graph]. In ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Retrieved July 25, 2026, from /statistics/953554/brexit-estimated-traffic-queues-in-dover/
Imperial College London. "Estimated length of peak time traffic queue along the M20 and A20 in the United Kingdom (UK) as of 2018, by length of custom check* (in miles)." Chart. May 31, 2018. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Accessed July 25, 2026. /statistics/953554/brexit-estimated-traffic-queues-in-dover/
Imperial College London. (2018). Estimated length of peak time traffic queue along the M20 and A20 in the United Kingdom (UK) as of 2018, by length of custom check* (in miles). ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc.. Accessed: July 25, 2026. /statistics/953554/brexit-estimated-traffic-queues-in-dover/
Imperial College London. "Estimated Length of Peak Time Traffic Queue along The M20 and A20 in The United Kingdom (Uk) as of 2018, by Length of Custom Check* (in Miles)." ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc., 31 May 2018, /statistics/953554/brexit-estimated-traffic-queues-in-dover/
Imperial College London, Estimated length of peak time traffic queue along the M20 and A20 in the United Kingdom (UK) as of 2018, by length of custom check* (in miles) ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, /statistics/953554/brexit-estimated-traffic-queues-in-dover/ (last visited July 25, 2026)
Estimated length of peak time traffic queue along the M20 and A20 in the United Kingdom (UK) as of 2018, by length of custom check* (in miles) [Graph], Imperial College London, May 31, 2018. [Online]. Available: /statistics/953554/brexit-estimated-traffic-queues-in-dover/
