Three arrests and 11 vehicles off the road following motorway crackdown

A multi-agency police operation to crack down on motoring offences in Bromsgrove led to three arrests and various drivers being reported.

During the Operation Drive Insured day of action on Thursday, November 23 as part of Road Safety Week Worcestershire’s Operational Patrol Unit were joined by Bromsgrove Safer Neighbourhood Team and the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency.

Response cars and motorbike riders were pulling over motorists along the M42 near Hopwood Services to check vehicles for their roadworthiness, weight limits, MOT and insurance credentials, as well as other possible offences such as window tings and incorrectly displayed number plates.

One low loader that was stopped for no insurance was carrying another vehicle that was too big, which made it one tonne overweight.

The driver tested positive for cannabis and further checks found his truck had a faulty handbrake and the engine hood was being held down by a bungee cord.

Operation Drive Insured was a week-long operation developed by MIB (Motor Insurers’ Bureau) and supported nationally by police forces across the UK to detect and seize uninsured vehicles.

During the operation at Hopwood, three were arrested on suspicion of drug driving, one had no valid MOT, one did not have insurance, 11 vehicles were prohibited from returning to the roads and seven delayed prohibitions were placed on vehicles.

Seven drivers were handed Traffic Offence Reports (TORs) for offences including tints, a trailer offence (weight), insecure load, two overweight offence (one vehicle was 2,100 kgs over and another vehicle 628 kgs over) and HGVs stopped where words of advice were given. Eye tests were also conducted.

PC Gethin Venn of the Operational Patrol Unit said: “We conducted this operation because as a force we want to ensure that the roads networks are safe and to reduce fatalities from the fatal four – speeding, drink, and drug driving, driving while distracted (such as being on a mobile phone) and the non-wearing of seatbelts.

“Working with our partners we targeted vehicles that were of interest to us, making sure they were in a roadworthy condition and insured for the safety of all road users.”