Commercial vehicle day of action targets dangerous goods offences on the A14

Northamptonshire Police joined colleagues from the DVSA as part of a day of action targeting commercial vehicles licenced to carry dangerous goods as part of the continued campaign to improve safety on the county’s roads.

Officers from the Roads Policing and Safer Roads teams, Forensic Collision Investigation Unit, Neighbourhood Policing and Response teams, and the Special Constabulary, took part in the operation on the A14 on November 7.

Throughout the day, more than 30 vehicles were intercepted by officers in marked police cars and escorted to the check site situated at the Rothwell Truckstop, where officers and DVSA enforcement officers checked for offences.

One driver may have regretted being obstructive to police officers at the check site when his insurance provider cancelled his policy after his white Mercedes Sprinter was found to be in such an unroadworthy and dangerous condition.

The 41-year-old was arrested and subsequently charged with two offences – driving without third party insurance and driving a motor vehicle in such a condition it was likely to cause a danger.

Gheorghe Telu Ivan, of Alum Rock Road, Birmingham, appeared at Northampton Magistrates’ Court on Friday, November 8, where he was fined £50 and received six penalty endorsement points on his driving licence after pleading guilty to having no insurance.

Ivan was also ordered to pay £85 court costs and £20 victim surcharge. However, the offence of driving a motor vehicle in a dangerous condition was withdrawn.

A 56-year-old man from Lancaster was arrested on suspicion of driving a white Volvo heavy goods vehicle whilst unfit through drugs and has been released under investigation pending further enquiries.

While a 20-year-old man from Derbyshire and 35-year-old man from Leicester were released under investigation after being arrested on suspicion of driving a green Lexus car and white Mercedes Sprinter van respectively while over the prescribed limit of a controlled drug.

In addition to this, one driver was issued with words of advice for not having the correct PPE (personal protection equipment) for the goods being carried, while another driver was spoken to for not having his Dangerous Goods Licence with him.

A total of 14 immediate prohibition notices were issued by police officers and DVSA officials, which prevented the drivers from continuing their journeys until the defects and offences had been rectified.

Mechanical defects included unroadworthy tyres, non-working lights and braking systems, as well as illegal numberplates, defective door and body conditions, as well as the driver not having a clear mirror and window views.

While four vehicles had either overweight or insecure loads, five vehicles were seized for no insurance/licencing and tax, and one driver was found to have committed tachograph offences after exceeding their driving hours.

Northamptonshire Police forensic collision investigator and specialist vehicle examiner, Sergeant Chris Gray, said: “Road safety is everyone’s responsibility, and it is disappointing that we still find commercial vehicles using our major road network in an unroadworthy condition.

“With the support from our partners, we will continue to hold these days of action to ensure that everyone gets home safely, and that people using our roads are doing so both legally and responsibly.”

Tragically in 2023, after being involved in a road collision in Northamptonshire, 29 people never returned home safely to their loved ones, and 271 required urgent medical assistance for serious and life-changing injuries.

Anyone with information about road safety concerns or any vehicle crime is asked to report it online at www.northants.police.uk/reportonline or call Northamptonshire Police on 101. Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Always call 999 in the event of an emergency, such as a crime in progress or where life is at risk.