Stop checks help ensure HGV safety (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Stop checks help ensure HGV safety

16560/7POLICE stepped up checks on heavy goods vehicles on two of west Wiltshire's main roads.

Four police officers and four officers from VOSA, the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency, carried out the checks near the Granada Services in Warminster on Thursday, to cover the A36 and A350.

The checks were part of Operation Mermaid, a national campaign to promote safety in HGVs.

PC Barney Appleton, traffic management officer for north and west Wiltshire, said: "We do these checks regularly on stretches of road that are particularly dangerous.

"These vehicles travel with some velocity so it is vital that we do our job and ensure they are safe.

"We stop the trucks because obviously we have the power to do that and VOSA carry out the checks.

"VOSA check the MOTs of the vehicles and for any defects they might have."

The checks went on for three and a half hours and 80 vehicles were stopped.

Police made seven prohibition orders, found one untaxed lorry and five vehicles with tacograph infringements.

PC Appleton said: "We were pleased there was nothing major, but will continue to do the checks.

"By doing this, we can ensure no haulage firms are consistently breaking the law. If they are, then we can pull them up on it and ensure it stops."