Roads Policing Unit and DVSA joint operation uncovers HGV with significant defects

These images were taken of a HGV travelling through Wiltshire last week and show significant defects which had the potential to cause a serious collision.

The HGV was stopped on January 20 at junction 15 of the M4 as part of a joint operation with Wiltshire’s Roads Policing Unit and the Drivers Vehicle and Standard Agency (DVSA).

The operation aimed to target commercial vehicles on the strategic road network.

Officers stopped the laden HGV that is capable of carrying 44 tonnes as part of the stop checks and a physical examination revealed a quantity of serious defects including a cracked brake disk and a tyre that had degraded so much the side wall on the inner edge was totally missing in over half the tyre.

Sgt Will Ayres said: “The general condition of the HGV was poor and it questioned the company's obligation to conduct detailed examination of the vehicle. The driver is also obliged to conduct a daily walk around check on the vehicle to spot obvious defects, and I am sure that had this actually been done correctly, the vehicle would not have been driven that day.

“The vehicle was carrying a load full of bricks and rubble and any heavy braking could have been devastating.”

As a result of the stop check, the vehicle was prohibited from moving on the roads of Wiltshire, and the matter is being progressed with the haulage company by the DVSA with closer examinations due to take place to ensure this is not a fleet wide issue.

Sgt Ayres said: “We will continue further partnership working with the DVSA and due to the large number of strategic roads in the county, our Roads Policing Unit will continue to conduct regular checks to ensure commercial vehicles travelling through the county are legal, safe and suitable to continue on with their journey.”

DVSA’s Enforcement Delivery Manager for the Southwest, Ross Trott said: “DVSA’s priority is protecting everyone from unsafe drivers and vehicles.

“We were disappointed to find vehicles in a dangerous condition in this joint operation.

“Most of the safety defects found during this operation alongside our partners at Wiltshire Police would have been spotted before the journey, had a walkaround check been completed.

“I want to remind commercial vehicle operators and drivers of their responsibility to check their vehicles before beginning their journey.”