Lorry driver fined in road safety operation (From Thurrock Gazette)

Lorry driver fined in road safety operation

2:20pm Tuesday 11th September 2012 in News

A LORRY driver who failed to take an adequate break during an 18 hour trip around England was caught and fined in Thurrock.

The Turkish-registered vehicle was stopped by officers from the Essex Police Commercial Vehicle Unit as part of a national Carriage of Dangerous Goods operation on Thursday, September 6.

Officers discovered that the lorry, carrying chemicals used in tyre production, had been driven from Dover to Manchester and to the Midlands, and was headed back to the Channel port for a return journey to Istanbul.

The driver had driven for a total of 18 hours and 20 minutes with the longest uninterrupted rest break being three hours.
 

He admitted breaking strict European hours regulations and was fined £400.

A total of 25 vehicles were stopped by police in the course of the operation, and escorted to the Moto Services area where officers checked paperwork and loads.

A Transit van which was overloaded with bagged sand by 1.5 tons, and was also towing a loaded trailer, was given to a prohibition notice until the excess weight was offloaded and a qualified driver found to replace the Transit driver who was not licensed to tow a trailer.

Officers also handed out a fine of £460.

A number of other offences were detected during the operation, and fines totalling £1,560 were collected.