A CRACKDOWN on unsafe vehicles saw 10 drivers have their licences suspended in North Yorkshire.

Last Friday (September 6, 2024), North Yorkshire Police worked with the DVSA on a vehicle inspection operation aimed at vans, trucks, and lorries carrying goods.

Officers checked a total of 23 of vehicles travelling on the A1 to ensure they were not only roadworthy but the cargo was safely secured, and the drivers had not been behind the wheel for too long.

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Unfortunately, most vehicles were either overloaded or in dangerous condition with problems such as unsecured items, worn trailer lashings, loose wheel nuts, and cracked windscreens meaning that drivers failed their safety checks.

As a result of this, 10 prohibition orders were issued, requiring drivers to stop driving immediately, and 15 traffic offence reports were also issued.

One of the vehicles stopped by North Yorkshire Police and DVSAOne of the vehicles stopped by North Yorkshire Police and DVSA (Image: North Yorkshire Police)

Inspector Clive Turner from North Yorkshire Police said: “Overloading is a common issue which we have seen during Friday’s operation.

“One of the main problems that we have is drivers loading flatbed vehicles and then not fastening things down which means that part of the load can come free, and this could cause a serious road traffic collision.

“Unsafe vehicles are a threat to all road users. Before setting off it is the responsibility of the driver to ensure that their vehicle is fit for purpose and check it is appropriate for the loads being carried.

“Operations like this one take place regularly at various locations across the county. They are invaluable for enforcement purposes and help prevent serious incidents on the busy road network.”