A NUMBER of potentially dangerous vehicles were stopped and arrests made when a safety operation was carried out last week.
Officers from West Midlands Police’s Road Harm Prevention Team carried out the drive near the NEC during the national policing Commercial Vehicle Week.
Dozens of motoring offences were uncovered and extra patrols in both marked and unmarked vehicles were carried out along the M42.
Offences had been committed by a range of commercial drivers including lorries, vans, plant vehicles, agricultural machinery and taxis.
Police placed the focus on the ‘fatal four’ offences – drink or drug-driving, speeding, using a mobile phone at the wheel and not wearing a seatbelt.
With commercial vehicles a whole raft of other offences were identified including excessive vehicle lengths, insecure loads, overweight vehicles, illegal tints and dangerous defects.
In total, 49 vehicles were stopped and 38 offences were detected.
West Midlands Police officers were supported by specialist teams from Central Motorway Policing Group (CMPG) and the Solihull Priorities Team.
Partners were in attendance included the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), Local Authority Waste and Licensing Teams, Motor Insurers Bureau, DataTag, TER and the West Midlands Fire Service Road Casualty Reduction Team.
Five people were arrested for other offences, such as driving whilst disqualified, failure to appear at court, driving under the influence of drugs, possession with intent to supply and theft of a motor vehicle.
A West Midlands Police spokesperson said: “This operation is just one of the many proactive measures undertaken by our team to ensure road safety.
“We are conducting regular operations to promote responsible driving behaviour, reduce road incidents and protect our communities.”
As well as speed enforcement and community engagement projects, such as Speed Watch, officers also educate drivers on safely overtaking cyclists through Operation Close Pass.
