Library image by Andrew Martin from Pixabay
Kent Police is targeting insecure and overweight loads, along with a range of other offences, in a two-week road safety initiative aimed at reducing collisions involving commercial vehicles. The national campaign, which runs until Sunday, February 9, 2025, encompasses all vehicles used for work purposes, including cars and motorcycles, not just lorries, trucks, and vans.
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As of Tuesday, February 4th, officers have already taken action on 68 offences which include driving without a license, insurance, or MOT, failure to wear a seatbelt, driving a vehicle in a dangerous condition, and having illegal number plates and window tints.
Enforcement is being carried out across Kent.
In Sandwich, patrols partnered with the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) on Friday, January 31st, at a checkpoint where, traffic offence reports were issued for 20 commercial vehicle infringements and 14 for non-commercial vehicles. Prohibition notices were also issued for vehicles that were overladen or defective.
During the operation, a 28-year-old man from Margate was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of cannabis, and a 34-year-old woman from Dover was arrested on an outstanding warrant related to an assault in London.
Chief Inspector Craig West, Head of Roads Policing, said:
‘Every year tens of thousands of people across the UK are injured in collisions involving a vehicle being driven for work purposes, which is why it is vital that such vehicles are roadworthy and being driven by someone who is legally able to do so.
‘Enforcement campaigns like this help to raise awareness of the dangers of driving with insecure loads, heavily tinted windows, vehicle defects or anything else that contravenes road safety laws.
‘We all have a responsibility to one another when driving so please remember to take all necessary steps to reduce the risk of being involved in a serious collision.’