North Wales Police use of HGV is a real eye opener

Posted by AndrewT on 14th May 2013

North Wales Police’ Commercial Vehicle Unit worked in partnership with VOSA and Roads Policing Officers to target HGV drivers flouting the law.  Using a HGV enabled the police to spot offences that otherwise may have gone undetected.

The operation, (the first of its kind in North Wales) was carried out from the 6th to 12th May 2013.  24 offences were detected and all were dealt with fixed penalty notices. Some of the most potentially dangerous offences included a driver reading a map balanced on the steering wheel of the vehicle, drivers playing with mobile phones and a driver taking photographs. Any vehicle (let alone a HGV) not driven safely is a potential lethal weapon and drivers must act responsibly.

Sergeant Tony Gatley who was in charge of the initiative said:

 “HGV’s are large and powerful vehicles and the consequences to other motorists, as well as themselves can be devastating. For instance, when a heavy vehicle hits a stationary car on the hard shoulder or in a tailback the consequences can be fatal.

He added: “It has been a real eye opener to see the results of the operation because police in cars or on motorbikes cannot see in the cabs of lorries and we intend on carrying out similar operations in the future.”