Heavy goods vehicles targeted as part of a road safety operation in Cheshire

A roads policing operation saw over 70 Traffic Offence Reports issued to lorry drivers using motorways and main roads across the county in a week-long operation.

The week-long operation ran from 10 to 16 October and saw officers use a Heavy Goods Vehicle to patrol key routes allowing them to identify any offences carried out by lorry drivers – particularly around the Fatal 5 – in a bid to make sure commercial hauliers were travelling safely on the local road network.

The Fatal 5 offences that officers targeted are; careless driving, speeding, driving while using a mobile phone, drink/drug driving, not wearing a seatbelt.

In total 74 Traffic Offence Reports were issued during the operation. Of those, 43 went to motorists who were not wearing seatbelts, 25 to drivers who were not in proper control of the vehicles and 13 to those who were using their mobile phones whilst driving.

Inspector for the Constabulary’s Roads and Crime Unit, Anton Sullivan, said: “Sadly, there are some drivers who think it’s acceptable to break the law and believe that they can get away with driving without wearing their seatbelts or whist using their mobile phone or otherwise distracted from driving.

“This vehicle is a valuable tool as it allows officers to have an elevated view enabling them to see exactly what is going on inside the cab of a lorry and to identify any offences which wouldn’t normally be seen from a patrol car.

Some drivers were stopped at the roadside and dealt with and others were given strict advice to make drivers understand the importance of being safe on the roads especially given the additional risks driven such large vehicles.

Anton added “I hope that the operation acts as a deterrent to lorry drivers, promotes safer roads and reiterates the fact that nobody is above the law, literally.

“The operation may have concluded but officers will be continuing to use such vehicles to patrol the road network across the county.”

Police and Crime Commissioner for Cheshire, David Keane, said: “Making our roads safer is a critical issue for all communities across Cheshire and one of my top priorities. Most people will have been affected at some time by injury or death caused by road traffic collisions.

Enforcement on our roads is a vital tool in making sure that our loved ones return home to us safe and well. There have been too many tragic deaths and serious injuries on Cheshire’s roads and motorways and I welcome any initiative that will help save lives and keep us safe.”