Specialist multi-agency dangerous goods operation

Last week specialist officers from the North Yorkshire Police Road Policing Group teamed up with colleagues from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), Teesport Harbour Police and Cleveland Police in an operation to spot check the safety of vehicles carrying chemicals and other dangerous goods on the roads.

 

Officers examined a total of 11 vehicles, 8 of which were carrying hazardous goods. The drivers of these 8 vehicles and the companies that put them on the road network were swiftly dealt with. There were various breaches of dangerous goods regulations including load security and availability of required protective equipment. 

There were also 5 breaches of drivers hours regulations detected and two fixed penalties notices issued in respect of these breaches.  Officers were pleased to report that all the vehicles inspected were found to be in good mechanical condition.

 

Roads policing Sergeant Andy Morton one of the officers involved in the operation said:

 

 “It concerns me greatly that of the 8 dangerous goods carrying vehicles inspected, 6 had in some way breached the regulations.

 

“ We are continuing to see high levels of non-compliance in this area of business which needs to improve. The carriage of these products is a high risk activity and I am appealing to hauliers involved in this area of work to take extra care in ensuring they comply with the rules”.