North Wales Police - Roads Crime Unit launch joint operation with DVSA
Officers from the Roads Crime Unit (RCU) recently carried out the second of three enforcement days, targeting Large Goods Vehicle (LGV) drivers around Flintshire and Deeside.
'Operation Cargo' is a multi agency effort, working in conjunction with the Driver Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), checking the roadworthiness of delivery vehicles, and their drivers.
The stop checks performed by RCU and DVSA highlighted numerous vehicle defects and driving offences, including:
- Driving with no bonnet
- Driving with no grill
- Not wearing a seatbelt
- Use of a fraudulent Driving Licence
- 2 x Driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence
- 1 x Cloned vehicle
- 6 x Vehicle Registration Mark offences
- 10 x Overladen vehicles
- 2 x Insecure load
- 2 x Driving whilst using a phone
- 3 x no MOT
- 5 x Driving with no insurance
- 2 x Cord exposed on a tyre
- 4 x Lamps not maintained
- 13 x insufficient tread on a tyre
- 1 x Leaving a vehicle in a dangerous position
- 1 x Incorrect registration displayed
- 4 x Driving with insufficient rest
- 1 x Failure to record drivers' hours
The driver of the red HGV pictured had an expired HGV category on his licence, no valid Certificate of Professional Competence and no insurance.
In total, eight drivers were given an order prohibiting the vehicle from moving due to defects that are seen to be unsafe, and several others were seized for driving with no insurance.
Sgt Emma Birrell of the Roads Crime Unit said: “The sheer amount of offences detected in such a short period highlights the enormity of the issues we deal with day in and out, in order to maintain road safety in our communities.
“These offences are not trivial, and they pose a real risk to public safety – drivers, cyclists and pedestrians alike. I would urge delivery drivers to check the roadworthiness of their vehicle before every shift.
“A third day of enforcement is planned, however I cannot rule out ongoing targeting of large and heavy goods vehicles based on the evidence we have seen thus far.
“Public safety is and will remain the primary concern of the Roads Crime Unit."