Two arrests and vehicles seized in road safety operation

Two men were arrested for drink and drug driving offences and multiple vehicles were found to be unroadworthy during a road safety operation on Tuesday (4 November).

Officers from West Mercia’s Operational Policing Unit (OPU), supported by colleagues from our Motorcycle Traffic Support Team (MTST) and partner agencies including the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) held a day of action at Strensham Services on the M5 Southbound.

A total of 31 vehicles were brought into the site which resulted in 20 vehicles being served with a Traffic Offence Report (TOR) for offences including no road tax, no insurance, driving other than in accordance with their licence, excessive tints and mobile phone offences.

Ten vans were over their weight limit – with one van being three tonnes over. Another had a tyre so bald the core was exposed around the whole circumference.

An HGV driver was pulled in for being on his mobile phone. Another HGV driver who drove through the car park to avoid the police inspection area struck two cars before rejoining the motorway.

The lorry was stopped by police on the M50 and a man in his 40s was arrested on suspicion of being over the drink drive limit. Both drivers have been reported to the Traffic Commissioner.

A man in his 30s was also arrested on suspicion of drug driving during the operation.

DVSA prohibited eight vehicles – with a total of 14 defects detected meaning they were immediately prohibited. These included a defective handbrake and an ABS brakes issue. Ten had defects which resulted in delayed prohibitions.

Two fixed penalty notices were issued for inoperative indicators, and one vehicle was found to have removed the diesel particulate filter from the exhaust with fumes entering the driver’s cab.

In total, three were immobilised by the DVSA and left at the site as they were not fit to rejoin the roads.

PC Gethin Venn of the OPU said: “Our vehicle safety operation successfully took unroadworthy and dangerous vehicles off our roads on Tuesday, many of which were in a dangerous condition that were a risk to all road users.

“The HGV driver who tried to evade police was thankfully arrested and detained. It does not need saying how dangerous driving while under the influence of alcohol is wherever it happens, let alone in a large and heavy vehicle on a busy motorway.

“Another man who was stopped was arrested on suspicion of being under the influence of drugs while driving too – aside from this, the state of his vehicle could have had consequences for others if he had to stop suddenly so that’s another potentially dangerous situation averted.

“Our advice to road users is to make sure you are insured, have a valid MOT and your vehicle is in a roadworthy condition for everyone’s sake.

“Please also make sure your tyres are properly inflated by checking once a week and make sure you have washer fluid with the correct anti-freeze solution in them as we head into winter.”