Overloaded Vehicles Targeted On The A55

A man was caught driving an overloaded vehicle whilst on a revoked licence during a road safety operation on the A55 yesterday (Thursday, 14th July). ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Officers from the Commercial Vehicle Unit as well as the DVSA (Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency – formally known as VOSA) carried out the joint operation at the weighbridge on Anglesey. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

During the routine road checks the majority of drivers and vehicles were found to be legal, however, a number of vehicles were stopped and found to be overloaded. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

One heavy good vehicle was found to be overloaded by 24% – the driver was also found to be driving on a revoked licence. He was issued with a TOR (Traffic Offence Report) and had to arrange for the vehicle to be emptied and collected. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Another driver, a foreign national, was brought into the weighbridge and was issued with a £400 fine for being overloaded by 15% and was found to be driving with the wrong category of licence. He was also found to be driving without a tachograph. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Another lorry was found to be overloaded by 10% and the driver was issued with a £200 fine at the roadside. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Drivers’ hours’ offences were also discovered with one particular driver receiving a £200 fine at the roadside for exceeding his driving hours and for insufficient daily rest. The penalty was given after a check of his tachograph revealed he’d committed the offences earlier this week and during last week. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

PC Nick Power from North Wales Police’ Commercial Vehicle Unit, which is attached to the Roads Policing Unit said: “Overloaded vehicles present a real danger to road users. All vehicles are designed and constructed to meet certain levels of stress; to exceed these levels can result in the sudden failure of vital components such as breaks, tyres, suspension and can adversely affect steering. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Ensuring a vehicle is not overloaded is the responsibility of both the operator and driver and I am urging all drivers to check before commencing on their journey. Road safety is a priority for North Wales Police and further checks will be carried out in the near future.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​