Roads Policing Unit target commercial transporter vans

Drivers of commercial vehicles on the A1 were stopped for carrying insecure loads, having no insurance and suspected drug driving as part of a targeted operation to keep our roads safe.

30 vehicles were stopped and taken to the site on Gonerby Moor where they were dealt with by way of Traffic Offence Reports (TORs) or Graduated Fixed Penalty Notices (GFPN).

Offences that were dealt with on the day included insecure loads, driver’s hours, no insurance, and overweight vehicles.

The day of enforcement – Operation Repression – was carried out by officers from our Roads Policing Unit (RPU) in partnership with the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) last Friday (7 June). 

The operation was focused on car transporter vans to promote road safety and best practices within the area of commercial vehicles, educate drivers and ensure compliance with the law.

A 36-year-old man tested positive for cannabis and cocaine and was subsequently arrested. He has since been released under investigation and was also reported for having an insecure load and an overweight vehicle.

Two vans were also stopped for not having tachographs fitted and in use. Tachographs record information about driving time, speed, and distance, and is a necessary tool to ensure drivers and employers follow the rules on driver’s hours.

Officers also looked at vehicle weight and vehicle conditions as part of the day of action.

PC Glenn Faulks, who led the operation, said: “Commercial vehicles account for a significant proportion of the vehicles on our roads, and it’s important that they comply with the law to ensure safety, not just for the drivers themselves, but for other road users as well.

“Operation Repression allows us to promote best practices within this industry, and where applicable, we’ll also be referring persistent offenders to the traffic commissioner.

“We’d like to thank our new RPU officers from the Special Constabulary for giving up their own time to come in and assist with the operation, and we’d also like to thank the DVSA for their support.”