Bracknell Vehicle Action Day
A multi partner operation took place last week, Thursday 25th November, around the Bagshot Road area of Bracknell. Thames Valley Police, Public Protection Partnership and the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) all took part in spot checks on commercial vehicles and vehicles transporting waste. The operation was organised by the Public Protection Partnership.
The aims of the operation, from a Public Protection, perspective were:
- Identify any waste carriers operating without a licence
- Identify any overloaded vehicles
- Educate those we talk to about vehicle loaded weights
- Educate those we talk to about waste carriers licences and best practice
- Enforcement action where required
Of the vehicles checked all bar two of were issued some form of penalty notice from one of the agencies involved. We were also pleased that so many of the vehicles were licensed to carry waste, however there were four that did not have a licence.
A summary of the day is as follows:
- 1 driver who was arrested was 3 ½ times over the legal drink driving limit and also had no insurance or mot on his van
- 1 vehicle seized for no insurance
- 15 fixed penalty notices issued
- 4 vehicles transporting waste without waste carriers licence
- 4 vehicle drivers were served notices by Drivers Standards Agency and had to remain on site until defects were rectified
- A licenced waste carrier who’s vehicle was 1 tonne over weight, and was also required to have 3 of the vehicles 6 tyres replaced
- A large flatbed vehicle carrying turf that was 30% over weight
Cllr John Harrison also joined officers to see first-hand the work undertaken. Cllr Harrison said:
“It is good to see officers from various agencies working together to protect our communities. The Council is committed to reducing the harm caused by the failure to comply with legislation controlling waste. This multi-agency day is part of our wider strategy to do so which also includes public engagement and where appropriate legal action against fly-tippers and others that transgress the law”.
PC Roslyn Bonney, of the Roads Policing Unit, said:
"Working with our partners at Bracknell Forest Council and the DVSA we ran an operation in Bracknell, targeting waste carriers as a response to fly tipping in the area.
“TVP and partners stopped a large number of vehicles. As a result of the operation drivers were reported for licensing offences, prohibited for mechanical defects and several fixed penalty notices were issued for load offences, tyre offences, seatbelt offences, phone offences and document offences.”
“Working with partners has allowed the enforcement and education of waste carriers, helping to protect other road users and the general public.”
DVSA’s Director of Enforcement, Marian Kitson, said:
“DVSA’s priority is to protect people from unsafe drivers and vehicles, which includes taking dangerous waste vehicles off the road.
“We were delighted to work alongside Public Protection Partnership on helping keep Bracknell roads safe from people that cut corners on road safety. Every driver or operator has a responsibility to check their vehicle is in a roadworthy condition before beginning a journey.
“We are here to support operators and drivers who comply and are safe. We want to ensure they are not disadvantaged by dangerous and reckless road use.”
We would like to thank the drivers for their cooperation yesterday and the members of the public who thanked us for our efforts in making Bracknell’s road a safer place to travel.
