One For The Road

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0:00:02 > 0:00:06North Yorkshire, the largest county in England and Wales.

0:00:06 > 0:00:08From seaside resorts, like Scarborough,

0:00:08 > 0:00:10to the historic city of York.

0:00:10 > 0:00:13It just offers you everything that policing could offer you.

0:00:13 > 0:00:16You work the cities, you work the rural areas...

0:00:16 > 0:00:226,000 miles of some of Britain's most scenic and most unforgiving roads.

0:00:22 > 0:00:23We've got three casualties

0:00:23 > 0:00:26out of the vehicle that's there in front of us.

0:00:26 > 0:00:30The traffic cops here deal with among the highest number

0:00:30 > 0:00:33of serious collisions per person than anywhere in the UK.

0:00:35 > 0:00:37Tonight, on the roads around

0:00:37 > 0:00:40one of the UK's drink-driving hot spots...

0:00:40 > 0:00:42One hammered female driver.

0:00:42 > 0:00:45..North Yorkshire's traffic officers catch up with drivers

0:00:45 > 0:00:47exceeding the limits.

0:00:47 > 0:00:52I got in the car after I'd had a drink, and I feel pretty stupid.

0:00:52 > 0:00:54It's all right, I've got you.

0:00:54 > 0:00:57And when a bad smash on one of Yorkshire's busiest roads

0:00:57 > 0:01:02causes life-threatening injuries, identifying if someone's to blame

0:01:02 > 0:01:03becomes a priority.

0:01:03 > 0:01:06I've seen some of the collisions that have been

0:01:06 > 0:01:09caused by people who have had a drink. I don't want any of my family

0:01:09 > 0:01:12to be involved in an accident with some drink driver.

0:01:12 > 0:01:14Welcome to North Yorkshire,

0:01:14 > 0:01:18a vast area stretching the traffic cops to the limit.

0:01:31 > 0:01:35In North Yorkshire, the traffic cops are cracking down on drink drivers.

0:01:37 > 0:01:40Keep going, keep going, keep going, keep going...

0:01:40 > 0:01:44They're even releasing videos online to warn people of the dangers

0:01:44 > 0:01:45of being drunk behind the wheel.

0:01:49 > 0:01:55We run two drink-drive campaigns every year in North Yorkshire,

0:01:55 > 0:02:02where we just, we stop thousands of motorists and breathalyse them.

0:02:03 > 0:02:04North Yorkshire are very,

0:02:04 > 0:02:07very high-profile with their drink-drive campaigns,

0:02:07 > 0:02:12and yet people will still take that risk. I've no idea why.

0:02:12 > 0:02:17Every year, around 250 people die as a result of drink-drive accidents

0:02:17 > 0:02:19on Britain's roads.

0:02:19 > 0:02:22Quite a lot our fatal accidents involve alcohol, unfortunately.

0:02:22 > 0:02:24They have no idea what they're doing

0:02:24 > 0:02:27and, as soon as they hit somebody else, quite often, unfortunately,

0:02:27 > 0:02:30the innocent party is the one that suffers.

0:02:31 > 0:02:35It's a Saturday night in Harrogate, recently classified as having

0:02:35 > 0:02:38more drink drivers than anywhere in the UK.

0:02:39 > 0:02:4010-4.

0:02:40 > 0:02:42TALK OVER RADIO

0:02:42 > 0:02:45Traffic constable Steve Gardner is working the night shift

0:02:45 > 0:02:50and has swung by the station to pick up partner Mark Mullins.

0:02:51 > 0:02:54- Yeah, 10-4.- It's Cragdale Rise, Knaresborough. There's been a bump

0:02:54 > 0:02:56- and two have made off from it. - There's been a what?

0:02:56 > 0:02:59It's just after kicking-out time in the pubs

0:02:59 > 0:03:02and the pair are responding to reports of a collision in a

0:03:02 > 0:03:05residential estate in Knaresborough, five miles away.

0:03:06 > 0:03:08Two runners, two are still with it.

0:03:08 > 0:03:11The reportee has said there were four occupants with him

0:03:11 > 0:03:14- when it crashed and two of them have...- Two have legged it.

0:03:14 > 0:03:16- Yeah, they're gone. - Uninsured, pissed, no licence.

0:03:16 > 0:03:20- Something like that. Or it's nicked. - Good one for us, really.

0:03:20 > 0:03:22It's the type of job I quite like.

0:03:22 > 0:03:24'When you run away, knowing that the police have been called,'

0:03:24 > 0:03:27it usually means that you've got something to hide or you're

0:03:27 > 0:03:30scared of the police. There are several reasons why you could

0:03:30 > 0:03:33run away, but none of them are innocent.

0:03:33 > 0:03:35Right, carry on down, Kiwi.

0:03:35 > 0:03:38- Take the next left, mate. - This one?- Yep.

0:03:38 > 0:03:39'We're in Knaresborough.'

0:03:39 > 0:03:43It's quite a nice area. In fact, it's quite a good area.

0:03:43 > 0:03:44I live there!

0:03:44 > 0:03:46We're not going to get through here, mate.

0:03:46 > 0:03:50If we can't get through, we're going to have to turn round, then.

0:03:50 > 0:03:54- Will we get through on the kerb?- Not with all those people stood there.

0:03:54 > 0:03:57Yeah, we'll get a bloody tank through there.

0:03:58 > 0:04:00- Go on, mate.- Right.

0:04:02 > 0:04:06Keep going, keep going, keep going, keep going. Go on, get going.

0:04:06 > 0:04:08'It's like Driving Miss Daisy with him.'

0:04:08 > 0:04:10Have you seen how he sits in the car, for a start?

0:04:10 > 0:04:12He's practically horizontal!

0:04:12 > 0:04:14It's fun, he's a good driver,

0:04:14 > 0:04:18and he is, but I'd never admit that to him.

0:04:18 > 0:04:20The driver is at the scene with local officers.

0:04:22 > 0:04:24Have you got Amy with you?

0:04:28 > 0:04:30Has she admitted driving?

0:04:32 > 0:04:35The driver's roadside breath test is more than three times

0:04:35 > 0:04:36the legal limit.

0:04:36 > 0:04:39We found, when we got there, the local unit were already there.

0:04:39 > 0:04:42There were a couple of parked vehicles to the nearside

0:04:42 > 0:04:44parked correctly, facing the correct way on the road,

0:04:44 > 0:04:47and the offending vehicle has come along

0:04:47 > 0:04:49and ploughed into both of them, causing an incredible

0:04:49 > 0:04:53amount of damage, particularly to the 4x4.

0:04:53 > 0:04:56She's admitted to us that she's been the driver

0:04:56 > 0:05:00and she's the registered keeper of the vehicle. And she's upset.

0:05:00 > 0:05:03I think it's dawning that she's dropped herself in quite

0:05:03 > 0:05:04a lot of trouble.

0:05:04 > 0:05:07Two men who were in the car have returned,

0:05:07 > 0:05:09having initially fled the scene.

0:05:09 > 0:05:12But Mark's concern is for another passenger who also

0:05:12 > 0:05:15disappeared at the time of the accident.

0:05:15 > 0:05:17This lass who ran off, what's her name?

0:05:19 > 0:05:22- The one that was in the car with me?- Yeah.

0:05:22 > 0:05:24We have a duty of care to people.

0:05:24 > 0:05:26If there's been four people in the car,

0:05:26 > 0:05:28we need to be satisfied that the four people are found.

0:05:30 > 0:05:32As the officers search for the missing passenger,

0:05:32 > 0:05:3530 miles south of Knaresborough,

0:05:35 > 0:05:40traffic officer John Kendall has also been dispatched on an emergency call.

0:05:40 > 0:05:44We just had a report of a collision at Stillingfleet, where there's

0:05:44 > 0:05:48a suggestion that the driver who's involved could be in drink.

0:05:49 > 0:05:52A member of the public has called 999.

0:05:52 > 0:05:56John needs to get to the scene quickly before the driver flees.

0:05:56 > 0:06:00Apparently, they've taken the keys off the driver to stop him leaving.

0:06:00 > 0:06:02'As I was driving to that incident,

0:06:02 > 0:06:05'I kept getting updates to say the bloke looks drunk,

0:06:05 > 0:06:09'the people have taken his keys, he's crashed into another car.'

0:06:09 > 0:06:12People don't always realise what could happen

0:06:12 > 0:06:16when they get into a car and have a drink.

0:06:16 > 0:06:18By the time John arrives,

0:06:18 > 0:06:20another traffic unit is already in attendance.

0:06:22 > 0:06:26The suspect driver is a pensioner and, whether he is drunk or not,

0:06:26 > 0:06:30John wants to know why he has crashed into a line of parked cars.

0:06:34 > 0:06:37- Hi there. Is it your vehicle?- Yes.

0:06:37 > 0:06:40- It is, and it's registered to you, is it, sir?- Yes.- OK.

0:06:40 > 0:06:42Are you able to come and join me in my car so we can get some

0:06:42 > 0:06:46details from you and just find out a little bit about what's happened?

0:06:46 > 0:06:50'Illness can sometimes make people look like they're drunk,'

0:06:50 > 0:06:53so you try and keep an open mind and see what happens.

0:06:53 > 0:06:56Have you had anything alcoholic to drink today?

0:06:56 > 0:07:00- No.- Nothing at all? - No, please...- All right.- One...

0:07:00 > 0:07:02One moment, please.

0:07:02 > 0:07:04'I have had lots of people telling me they've not had a drink

0:07:04 > 0:07:07'and also the old classic, "Well, I only had a pint."'

0:07:07 > 0:07:11It's just an unfortunate part of what we do, day in, day out.

0:07:11 > 0:07:14The quickest way to determine if this driver needs medical help,

0:07:14 > 0:07:18or a night in the cells because he's drunk, is through a breath test.

0:07:18 > 0:07:21Because of the fact you've been involved in an accident,

0:07:21 > 0:07:22we suspect there's some issue.

0:07:22 > 0:07:25I'll tell you, I can ask for the specimen breath, it's a request.

0:07:25 > 0:07:28If you refuse or fail to provide it, that's an offence, which can be

0:07:28 > 0:07:29arrested, all right, sir?

0:07:29 > 0:07:31So, I'll hold the device and all you need to do for me

0:07:31 > 0:07:34is form a seal and blow into that until I tell you to stop.

0:07:34 > 0:07:35Just, there it is there.

0:07:35 > 0:07:39'You can see from the way he's trying to hold the breath kit,

0:07:39 > 0:07:42'he hasn't really listened to what I've said to him, he's that drunk.'

0:07:42 > 0:07:46We're getting to the point now where things are really getting serious.

0:07:46 > 0:07:48- Can you see the tube?- Yep.

0:07:48 > 0:07:50All right, what you need to do is form a seal around the tube

0:07:50 > 0:07:52when I tell you and blow into it, OK?

0:07:52 > 0:07:55So, form a seal around it and blow. Keep going...

0:07:55 > 0:07:56DEVICE BEEPS

0:07:56 > 0:07:59Hang on, no, you need to have a steady blow.

0:07:59 > 0:08:04Dealing with a driver struggling to blow properly isn't uncommon.

0:08:04 > 0:08:07In 2014, North Yorkshire officers arrested more

0:08:07 > 0:08:11than 100 drivers for failing to provide a roadside breath test.

0:08:12 > 0:08:14OK, so, form a seal and blow.

0:08:14 > 0:08:17Get a seal, keep going, keep going, keep going, keep going...

0:08:17 > 0:08:19- DEVICE BEEPS - OK, thank you.

0:08:20 > 0:08:22So, what the machine's doing now is just giving me

0:08:22 > 0:08:26an analysis of whether there is any alcohol in your system

0:08:26 > 0:08:28and dependent upon the result...

0:08:28 > 0:08:31The fact that it's analysing something suggests to me

0:08:31 > 0:08:34that you have had a drink, all right? Because it's checking,

0:08:34 > 0:08:36- and it's going to tell me. - DEVICE BEEPS

0:08:36 > 0:08:38OK, so what that tells me is 104. Fail.

0:08:38 > 0:08:40So, as it stands at the moment, you're under arrest on suspicion

0:08:40 > 0:08:44of driving whilst over the prescribed limit. You do not have to say anything...

0:08:44 > 0:08:46'You could be shocked by what you saw.

0:08:46 > 0:08:48'You could think, look at him, what the hell is he doing?'

0:08:48 > 0:08:52But you try and deal with things in a sympathetic way.

0:08:52 > 0:08:55Leave your door. It's all right, don't worry about that.

0:08:55 > 0:08:56I've got it.

0:08:56 > 0:08:58Right, come on. You OK?

0:08:58 > 0:09:01The driver's blown three times over the drink-drive limit

0:09:01 > 0:09:04and he's struggling to remain upright.

0:09:04 > 0:09:06It's all right, I've got you. 'He's staggering out of the car.

0:09:06 > 0:09:09'Albeit, yes, he had a problem with his leg,

0:09:09 > 0:09:11'but it was probably one of the worst I've had for a little while.'

0:09:11 > 0:09:15I don't really have a great deal of tolerance for them, I've got to say.

0:09:15 > 0:09:18OK, that's it. Now we've got to the door.

0:09:18 > 0:09:21'Drink drivers are criminals, and we want to catch them.

0:09:21 > 0:09:24'They are the ones who've chosen to go down that route,'

0:09:24 > 0:09:27who decide for whatever reason that they're going to get in a car

0:09:27 > 0:09:28when they've had a drink.

0:09:28 > 0:09:31- I've not killed anyone. - No, you haven't, no, no, no.

0:09:31 > 0:09:35All you've done is you've hit that car going up the hill.

0:09:35 > 0:09:38But unfortunately, you've had a drink, haven't you? So...

0:09:38 > 0:09:40- Yes.- We have to go and...

0:09:40 > 0:09:42TALK OVER RADIO

0:09:42 > 0:09:45They'll sort that out, they won't sort the other out.

0:09:48 > 0:09:52That is a relief. As long as I've not killed anyone

0:09:52 > 0:09:55or injured anyone, I have.

0:10:01 > 0:10:07In the UK, roadside breath tests cannot be used as evidence in court.

0:10:07 > 0:10:11To ensure a conviction, John needs to obtain another sample

0:10:11 > 0:10:12back at the station.

0:10:12 > 0:10:15I've got him. I want to get him on that machine.

0:10:15 > 0:10:17Wherever there's any alcohol involved,

0:10:17 > 0:10:19we want to try to progress matters as fast as possible

0:10:19 > 0:10:22so we can get evidence again as quickly as we can.

0:10:25 > 0:10:26Oh, no.

0:10:30 > 0:10:34Back in Knaresborough, officers have arrested a female driver after

0:10:34 > 0:10:37she crashed her car and failed a roadside breath test.

0:10:37 > 0:10:40Can we get recovery, please, for this vehicle?

0:10:40 > 0:10:44Although she has admitted driving, PC Mark Mullins has concerns over

0:10:44 > 0:10:48a missing passenger who left the scene of the accident.

0:10:48 > 0:10:51Hello? Hi, it's Mark Mullins from North Yorkshire Road Policing Group.

0:10:51 > 0:10:54I just want to make sure... You're not in any trouble,

0:10:54 > 0:10:56I just want to make sure you're all right.

0:10:58 > 0:10:59Right, where are you now?

0:11:02 > 0:11:04Where do you live?

0:11:04 > 0:11:07Right, what I'll do, because of what you've told me, I'm going to

0:11:07 > 0:11:09see if we can get an ambulance to come round cos

0:11:09 > 0:11:12if you've got a chest injury, it needs to be checked out, all right?

0:11:12 > 0:11:15If you just stay there, I'll get them to come round, OK?

0:11:15 > 0:11:16Bye.

0:11:18 > 0:11:22There you are. She's at home. She's got some chest pain so...

0:11:22 > 0:11:26Steve Gardner is dealing with two male passengers who also left

0:11:26 > 0:11:29the scene before the police arrived.

0:11:29 > 0:11:31So what are your injuries, fella?

0:11:31 > 0:11:35- I've got a bit of a pain there. - Did you have your seatbelt on?

0:11:35 > 0:11:38- Yes.- OK. That's what that pain's from.

0:11:39 > 0:11:43I've got the top of my neck at the back, just a bit of a pain.

0:11:43 > 0:11:45And the reason you ran off was what?

0:11:45 > 0:11:50- I just panicked. Panicked. - Panicked about what?- I don't know.

0:11:50 > 0:11:54Just, you know... I didn't want to be involved in one of the...

0:11:54 > 0:11:58- You didn't want to be involved in having a crash?- I'm sorry.

0:11:58 > 0:12:02- So you've had the crash and THEN you run away.- I panicked.

0:12:02 > 0:12:05- How much have you had to drink tonight?- Quite a lot.

0:12:06 > 0:12:10None of the passengers are seriously hurt.

0:12:10 > 0:12:13But the reason why they fled the accident scene is still a mystery.

0:12:15 > 0:12:18'They were just trying to make a story up amongst themselves.'

0:12:18 > 0:12:22We never really got to the bottom of why those lads were in the car.

0:12:22 > 0:12:28One hammered female driver thinks that she can drive home. She can't.

0:12:28 > 0:12:31She'll lose her licence, could lose her job, lose her livelihood.

0:12:33 > 0:12:34All over a few drinks, eh?

0:12:34 > 0:12:40The woman has blown 115, more than three times over the legal limit.

0:12:40 > 0:12:44I mean, she's a professional woman, she's got a really decent job.

0:12:44 > 0:12:47There's lots of people that we see that are regular

0:12:47 > 0:12:52and normal drink drivers. This woman didn't fit any of those criteria.

0:12:52 > 0:12:58It was beyond all belief that she had driven less than a mile,

0:12:58 > 0:13:02not just on the limit but absolutely hammered, to get home.

0:13:02 > 0:13:04Why? No idea.

0:13:06 > 0:13:10I got in the car after I'd had a drink and I drove

0:13:10 > 0:13:15and then had a crash and then... Yes, pretty stupid.

0:13:15 > 0:13:19- INTERVIEWER: First time? - Yeah, first time.

0:13:19 > 0:13:21I never believe it, you know, people say to us time

0:13:21 > 0:13:24and time again when we stop them for drink-driving,

0:13:24 > 0:13:28it's their first time, "I've never done it, I'm not a drink-driver."

0:13:28 > 0:13:30I think, if people get away with it once,

0:13:30 > 0:13:33they think they'll get away with it again.

0:13:33 > 0:13:37I'd be amazed if it was, but I'll never know. That's the cynic in me.

0:13:37 > 0:13:42You go with these two nice gents and then I'll follow you down.

0:13:42 > 0:13:46We'll be setting off in a couple of minutes. All right?

0:13:46 > 0:13:48'She's out, having a nice night with her friends,

0:13:48 > 0:13:51'not a care in the world, and it all comes crashing around her ears.'

0:13:51 > 0:13:53But without a doubt it'll have a massive

0:13:53 > 0:13:55impact on her in years to come.

0:13:55 > 0:13:58The ambulance have said that they're quite happy that she's not

0:13:58 > 0:14:01had any serious injuries but they'd rather take her in

0:14:01 > 0:14:03to check her over.

0:14:03 > 0:14:06The issues that causes for us is that there is a possibility

0:14:06 > 0:14:09we might have to go down the blood route for the drink-driving

0:14:09 > 0:14:13side of it but, at the end of the day, she has blown 115 so we've

0:14:13 > 0:14:16got three, four, five hours, she's still going to be well over.

0:14:16 > 0:14:20The drunk driver is given a police escort to hospital,

0:14:20 > 0:14:25and she's not the only one left counting the cost of her actions.

0:14:25 > 0:14:29The parked car she hit has sustained a lot of damage.

0:14:29 > 0:14:31And it looks like she hasn't been tootling along either.

0:14:31 > 0:14:34She's driven so fast that she's shifted

0:14:34 > 0:14:37a tonne and a half of 4x4

0:14:37 > 0:14:39eight feet forward.

0:14:39 > 0:14:42It's a lovely car. I'm going to miss it.

0:14:42 > 0:14:45My daughter heard it. She was at the front of the house.

0:14:45 > 0:14:48Just shouted us awake.

0:14:48 > 0:14:49So we came down.

0:14:49 > 0:14:53There wasn't anybody seriously hurt, which is a good thing.

0:14:53 > 0:14:56Tomorrow, I'll be pinching my daughter's car

0:14:56 > 0:14:58and then probably looking for a new car, I think.

0:15:00 > 0:15:02They seem to have taken it quite well, actually but, at the end

0:15:02 > 0:15:05of the day, the woman says, "Is it a write-off? Cos I love my car."

0:15:05 > 0:15:06It's her baby.

0:15:07 > 0:15:10Not that one any more. Straight to the scrapyard.

0:15:13 > 0:15:15Don't forget your teddy bear.

0:15:16 > 0:15:18- No, leave that in there. - On the mirror.

0:15:20 > 0:15:24Why do people drink and drive? Laziness.

0:15:24 > 0:15:27They think they're not affected by alcohol in any way, they think

0:15:27 > 0:15:31they can have the third or fourth or fifth pint and be fine to drive.

0:15:31 > 0:15:32Bravado.

0:15:32 > 0:15:35- Thank you very much. - Thank you.- Goodnight.

0:15:35 > 0:15:38If one of her passengers had not had her seatbelt on or just

0:15:38 > 0:15:41banged her head in the wrong way on one of the frames within the car

0:15:41 > 0:15:43and been seriously injured or killed,

0:15:43 > 0:15:46she would have gone to prison. I think people don't realise it.

0:15:51 > 0:15:53At York police station,

0:15:53 > 0:15:58John Kendall has arrived with the drink-driving pensioner.

0:15:58 > 0:16:01A roadside breath test showed the driver to be three times over

0:16:01 > 0:16:03the drink-drive limit.

0:16:03 > 0:16:07But only the station meter can be used as evidence in court.

0:16:07 > 0:16:10- Have you got a mobile phone with you?- Somewhere, yeah.

0:16:10 > 0:16:12OK, I'll just ask you to switch it off for us

0:16:12 > 0:16:13while we're in here, if you could.

0:16:13 > 0:16:16Can you turn it off?

0:16:16 > 0:16:18What we'll do is, when we go in there,

0:16:18 > 0:16:20we'll take your property and what have you.

0:16:20 > 0:16:23- Be careful.- Oh, no. - Just sit tight.

0:16:24 > 0:16:27I'm...

0:16:27 > 0:16:28(so stupid.)

0:16:30 > 0:16:33It's quite sad to see he's in such a state that he can't even

0:16:33 > 0:16:36switch his phone off. This isn't good.

0:16:36 > 0:16:38- Where is it? - There's a button at the top.

0:16:38 > 0:16:40I don't know if that's what you do to turn it off.

0:16:40 > 0:16:42Don't ring anybody, will you?

0:16:42 > 0:16:45Let me have a look, see if we can figure out how we do it.

0:16:45 > 0:16:46- Is it one of these?- No. I...

0:16:48 > 0:16:50Just pop it back in your pocket there for the moment.

0:16:50 > 0:16:53It's switching off so just leave it there a second. It's all right.

0:16:53 > 0:16:57My previous profession...

0:16:57 > 0:17:00before I retired...

0:17:00 > 0:17:02in June...

0:17:04 > 0:17:05..was this.

0:17:07 > 0:17:08'He's designed police cells

0:17:08 > 0:17:10'and then, all of a sudden, he finds himself in one.

0:17:10 > 0:17:12'It's a fall from grace.'

0:17:12 > 0:17:16It's important, catching people who are drink-driving and taking them off the road.

0:17:16 > 0:17:20You know, he is the master of his own destiny. He has done that.

0:17:20 > 0:17:22He is the one who has gone drinking.

0:17:22 > 0:17:24He is the one who has got in a car and he is responsible for it,

0:17:24 > 0:17:26and he needs to take that responsibility.

0:17:26 > 0:17:28Unfortunately, there are still people who think

0:17:28 > 0:17:31they can take a bit of a chance. He has driven on a main road

0:17:31 > 0:17:34where there would have been a catastrophe if he had crashed.

0:17:34 > 0:17:35Come on.

0:17:35 > 0:17:38John needs to get another breath sample before this driver

0:17:38 > 0:17:40starts to sober up.

0:17:40 > 0:17:43Right. Pop yourself down on there for me, if you could. OK.

0:17:43 > 0:17:48Just sit there for a minute. Just relax a moment.

0:17:48 > 0:17:49BEEP

0:17:49 > 0:17:51That means we are ready to go. So hold it there.

0:17:51 > 0:17:54And just make a nice seal around the end of the tube.

0:17:54 > 0:17:55And then get blowing.

0:17:55 > 0:17:57Don't put the whole thing in your mouth.

0:17:57 > 0:18:01That's it, keep going, keep going, keep going, keep going...

0:18:02 > 0:18:05Keep going. That's it, you have done the first one. OK, just relax.

0:18:07 > 0:18:12Those readings are 98 and 95. OK, so we take the lower reading.

0:18:12 > 0:18:14So that means that you are over the limit. OK?

0:18:14 > 0:18:17Which we probably thought was going to happen anyway,

0:18:17 > 0:18:18didn't we, to be fair?

0:18:18 > 0:18:22He's going to be facing a lengthy ban and part of the punishment

0:18:22 > 0:18:25will be for him to have some sort of alcohol counselling.

0:18:25 > 0:18:27And it may be that this is his chance.

0:18:27 > 0:18:28You know, if he takes it,

0:18:28 > 0:18:31then this may be an end to all these things

0:18:31 > 0:18:34and make him realise, having come here...

0:18:34 > 0:18:38It's a big fall from grace, I suppose, for a guy like him to come

0:18:38 > 0:18:40into the cells that he has designed.

0:18:40 > 0:18:43We have got to hope that that is what happens and he takes

0:18:43 > 0:18:46that forward and it stops now and he gets some help with his drinking.

0:18:46 > 0:18:50With the second breath test well above the legal limit, the architect

0:18:50 > 0:18:54will be kept in police custody until sober enough to be released.

0:18:57 > 0:18:58Oh, dear.

0:19:08 > 0:19:11No matter what the time of day or night,

0:19:11 > 0:19:15the traffic cops are always on the lookout for drink-drivers.

0:19:15 > 0:19:20Joining TC Steve Gardner on night patrol is TC Chris Coleman.

0:19:24 > 0:19:26Oh, dear, I'm tired.

0:19:26 > 0:19:30But working nights can be tough, on and off shift.

0:19:30 > 0:19:34The missus had a couple of glasses of red tonight with her dinner

0:19:34 > 0:19:37and I was looking, wishing I could have a couple of glasses of red!

0:19:37 > 0:19:38Yeah, yeah.

0:19:38 > 0:19:41At 2am, the pair are heading north on the A1.

0:19:41 > 0:19:44- You all right, Kiwi? - No, no, mate, I'm good.

0:19:44 > 0:19:47World is your oyster.

0:19:47 > 0:19:52They pass a lay-by and Steve notices a car parked up.

0:19:52 > 0:19:53Aye-aye.

0:19:54 > 0:19:56Bit of passion?

0:19:56 > 0:19:57All fogged up.

0:20:00 > 0:20:02Let's find out what's going on here.

0:20:02 > 0:20:04Do you want to run it through?

0:20:04 > 0:20:06Could I have a vehicle check, please?

0:20:06 > 0:20:08Could be lots of things.

0:20:08 > 0:20:13It could be lovers in a car, it could be druggies in a car...

0:20:19 > 0:20:23Totally out for the count, two people, male and female.

0:20:24 > 0:20:26Not even moved a muscle.

0:20:28 > 0:20:29TC COLEMAN TALKS ON THE RADIO

0:20:29 > 0:20:3020s?

0:20:30 > 0:20:33For a start, let's see if they are alive.

0:20:33 > 0:20:36I'm guessing they are alive with the amount of fogging up inside the car.

0:20:36 > 0:20:39And secondly, just to find out why they are parked up here.

0:20:39 > 0:20:43It is quite common and we come across single occupants having had

0:20:43 > 0:20:47a fallout with the other half, they just drive away from the situation.

0:20:47 > 0:20:51But to see two people sleeping in a car is unusual.

0:20:51 > 0:20:54Hello, mate. Sorry to wake you up. Is everything all right?

0:20:54 > 0:20:56- Yeah, yeah.- How come you are sleeping here, mate?

0:20:56 > 0:21:00- I've been driving too long, mate. - You've been driving too long?- Yeah.

0:21:00 > 0:21:02- Where have you come from today? - Newcastle.

0:21:02 > 0:21:04The second that that window was wound down, there was

0:21:04 > 0:21:08a good strong smell of alcohol coming from within the vehicle.

0:21:08 > 0:21:11'So, at this point, I'm thinking that this guy has had a few drinks

0:21:11 > 0:21:12'before he has driven there.'

0:21:12 > 0:21:16- What time did you stop driving? How long have you been here?- Ages, mate.

0:21:16 > 0:21:19- How long is ages?- Um...

0:21:19 > 0:21:22What time do you think it is now?

0:21:22 > 0:21:25- Two o'clock in the morning. - You have been here since what time?

0:21:25 > 0:21:26- Six o'clock.- OK.

0:21:26 > 0:21:29I can smell a lot of alcohol in the vehicle.

0:21:29 > 0:21:32- Have you been drinking tonight? - No, my girlfriend has.- OK.

0:21:32 > 0:21:35We are going to give you a breath test if that's OK with you?

0:21:35 > 0:21:37- Fine, yeah.- So you have not been drinking at all?

0:21:37 > 0:21:39I had a beer and a bit of all that.

0:21:39 > 0:21:43- How long ago?- Um...

0:21:45 > 0:21:48- About seven o'clock.- OK.

0:21:48 > 0:21:52He has admitted to driving that vehicle to that location.

0:21:52 > 0:21:54I doubt the timings that he has given us

0:21:54 > 0:21:59so it is now my suspicion that he has been drink-driving.

0:21:59 > 0:22:02- But you have been here since six o'clock?- Yeah.

0:22:02 > 0:22:06- So you have had a beer since you have been parked here?- Yeah.- OK.

0:22:06 > 0:22:11- What sort of beer did you have? - A bit of vodka, I think it was.

0:22:11 > 0:22:13- Vodka?- Yes.- You said beer.

0:22:13 > 0:22:16- Yeah. Only a bit, like, with my girlfriend.- OK.

0:22:16 > 0:22:19- Where is the beer can? Or beer bottle?- It's in this one here.- OK.

0:22:21 > 0:22:24- It's in where?- It's in that. - That's a Coke bottle.

0:22:24 > 0:22:26INDISTINCT

0:22:26 > 0:22:28Yeah, but you said beer. Don't wake her up,

0:22:28 > 0:22:30you don't have to wake her up.

0:22:30 > 0:22:33It's all right. She's all right. You said you have had a beer.

0:22:33 > 0:22:36Yeah, I have only had a little bit. My girlfriend has been drinking.

0:22:36 > 0:22:40- Well, where is the beer bottle? - The vodka is in that.

0:22:40 > 0:22:42- There is a bit of vodka in that. - No, you said you had a beer.

0:22:42 > 0:22:44Yeah, a swig of that, only a little bit.

0:22:44 > 0:22:47I'm starting to think I'm talking a different language to this chap.

0:22:47 > 0:22:51You know, he says he has a beer, he says, "That's what I meant, vodka."

0:22:51 > 0:22:54And that's what it means, having a beer. And that's like...

0:22:54 > 0:22:55Pfft, you know.

0:22:55 > 0:22:58Maybe where he comes from, but I've never heard that term before,

0:22:58 > 0:23:00having a beer when it's spirits in a Coke bottle.

0:23:00 > 0:23:04- Are you going to pass a breath test? - Yeah, yeah. Of course I will. - Good stuff.

0:23:04 > 0:23:07MACHINE BEEPS

0:23:08 > 0:23:11All right, Gary. Nice steady blow until I say stop.

0:23:11 > 0:23:14Keep going, keep going, keep going. That's it. Thank you.

0:23:14 > 0:23:18- Anything over 35, Gary, is a fail. - Yeah.

0:23:18 > 0:23:21- You have blown 35, mate.- Yeah. - So you are bang on the limit.

0:23:23 > 0:23:26- I have only had a couple of swigs, that's it.- Have you?

0:23:26 > 0:23:30- A couple of swigs, that is more than that, mate.- I'm a boxer. I don't drink.- GIRL: It's freezing.

0:23:30 > 0:23:32- I have a drink about once every- BLEEP.

0:23:32 > 0:23:35- Have you got your driving licence on you, Gary?- Yeah, I have.

0:23:35 > 0:23:41What I'm going to do is give you a producer for your insurance.

0:23:41 > 0:23:45A producer means the driver will need to bring proof

0:23:45 > 0:23:50of his insurance documents to a station in the next seven days.

0:23:50 > 0:23:54Sit in the back of there while my colleague does you a producer.

0:23:56 > 0:24:00If I followed a car and I pulled the driver over in a very standard

0:24:00 > 0:24:03clear-cut drink-driving type case,

0:24:03 > 0:24:05and they blew 35, I would be frustrated.

0:24:05 > 0:24:07But when you have a case like this

0:24:07 > 0:24:11when there is a chap asleep in a car and he was comatose, he was well out

0:24:11 > 0:24:15of it, I'm always going to struggle with the drink-drive situation.

0:24:15 > 0:24:19- Right, mate. You are free to go. - Yeah? Cheers.- Thanks very much.

0:24:19 > 0:24:21'We couldn't prove the driving angle,'

0:24:21 > 0:24:26we couldn't prove the post-drinking angle.

0:24:26 > 0:24:31Both Chris and I knew that we were struggling with any offences here.

0:24:31 > 0:24:34- His keys were out of the- BLEEP - ignition. And he was asleep.

0:24:34 > 0:24:36I thought the key was in it. Were the keys not...?

0:24:36 > 0:24:39Keys were not in the ignition. Double-checked that.

0:24:39 > 0:24:41You couldn't prove that he was about to drive.

0:24:41 > 0:24:44I haven't had a beer since about seven o'clock.

0:24:44 > 0:24:46We have just come back from Newcastle, so...

0:24:46 > 0:24:48I was pulling over...

0:24:48 > 0:24:50Cos it's a bit of a long drive, isn't it?

0:24:50 > 0:24:51It's like three hours long.

0:24:51 > 0:24:54So I just pulled over and me mate had a little drink in the car,

0:24:54 > 0:24:57and, the next thing I know, the knocking at the window.

0:24:57 > 0:24:59For a breathalyser.

0:24:59 > 0:25:03This driver might have been just on the right side of the alcohol reading,

0:25:03 > 0:25:06but every year, across the UK,

0:25:06 > 0:25:09over 70,000 people are caught above the limit.

0:25:12 > 0:25:15Targeting drivers who pose a risk to themselves and others

0:25:15 > 0:25:19is a 24-hour operation in North Yorkshire.

0:25:19 > 0:25:21But when the reports run dry,

0:25:21 > 0:25:24sometimes it can be a chance to catch up on paperwork.

0:25:26 > 0:25:30At the police station in Scarborough, Traffic Constable Dan Hughes

0:25:30 > 0:25:33and Sergeant Pete Wood are updating their caseload.

0:25:33 > 0:25:38But for Dan, the office is the last place he wants to be.

0:25:38 > 0:25:42I have always had an interest in cars, and fast cars and driving.

0:25:42 > 0:25:45And that aspect of the role is really what drew me

0:25:45 > 0:25:47to being a police officer.

0:25:49 > 0:25:51I don't really have a natural curiosity. I'm not nosy.

0:25:51 > 0:25:53Not like my missus. She is.

0:25:53 > 0:25:55That's why she's a detective!

0:25:55 > 0:25:58I just wanted to drive fast cars.

0:25:58 > 0:26:00Dan could be in luck.

0:26:00 > 0:26:04An urgent call for assistance comes through from a member of the public

0:26:04 > 0:26:08who has reported the theft of a tractor in a village 20 miles away.

0:26:12 > 0:26:16Rural theft costs an estimated £1.5 million

0:26:16 > 0:26:18across North Yorkshire in 2014.

0:26:20 > 0:26:24And high-value tractor theft is on the increase throughout the UK.

0:26:24 > 0:26:30- ON RADIO:- He has now turned right... The A170 again.

0:26:30 > 0:26:35But this time, the theft appears to be less about making a fast buck.

0:26:35 > 0:26:38The driver has taken it for a joyride without the owner's permission.

0:26:40 > 0:26:42We are just heading over to the Wombleton area.

0:26:42 > 0:26:47There is a report that a male that has had some sort of issues

0:26:47 > 0:26:50at home, he has left the address in a tractor

0:26:50 > 0:26:52with a trailer on the back.

0:26:53 > 0:26:57We do suffer thefts of farm machinery, tractors included.

0:26:57 > 0:26:59But we don't often get reports of somebody taking

0:26:59 > 0:27:03one for a joyride in the middle of the afternoon.

0:27:03 > 0:27:07But a three-tonne tractor could cause some serious damage

0:27:07 > 0:27:10and stopping it quickly isn't going to be easy.

0:27:14 > 0:27:17He's stopped, he's looked at me,

0:27:17 > 0:27:20set off again, stopped, set off again.

0:27:21 > 0:27:23We have all sorts of tactical options

0:27:23 > 0:27:25in relation to pursuing vehicles,

0:27:25 > 0:27:28stolen vehicles included, but that doesn't really cover tractors.

0:27:28 > 0:27:33We have stingers, and that would be our first port of call, really.

0:27:33 > 0:27:37We can't really chase something like that round all day long.

0:27:37 > 0:27:39With Dan 15 minutes away,

0:27:39 > 0:27:44news comes through that the driver has abandoned the tractor

0:27:44 > 0:27:47outside his mother's house, and run off.

0:27:47 > 0:27:49He's mentally unstable.

0:27:49 > 0:27:52The concern here is, the man the cops are chasing

0:27:52 > 0:27:53has mental health issues

0:27:53 > 0:27:56and he's still at large, and potentially dangerous.

0:27:58 > 0:28:01This is quite a volatile gentleman, by all accounts,

0:28:01 > 0:28:04so we're just waiting for some support to get there.

0:28:04 > 0:28:08Obviously, myself and Peter en route, we've both got Tasers.

0:28:08 > 0:28:12We're going to lend some assistance when we get on the scene.

0:28:12 > 0:28:14XM644.

0:28:34 > 0:28:38Given the sensitivities involved, the police rendezvous in the village

0:28:38 > 0:28:42to talk with a local officer, Andy Pomfret, who knows the man well.

0:29:02 > 0:29:05Obviously, what we've got to consider here is that we are dealing

0:29:05 > 0:29:08with somebody that has got some mental health issues,

0:29:08 > 0:29:10and he's carried that all his life

0:29:10 > 0:29:13since sustaining a serious injury at a young age,

0:29:13 > 0:29:16and he might just need some help, so we can't go in all guns blazing.

0:29:16 > 0:29:19We've got to, you know, go in on a sort of low approach

0:29:19 > 0:29:22but be mindful that we might need to up our game, if need be.

0:29:34 > 0:29:37We're not dealing with Mr Average Criminal that is just

0:29:37 > 0:29:40hellbent on getting away from us with his new stolen booty.

0:29:40 > 0:29:44We're dealing with somebody that's potentially not making

0:29:44 > 0:29:46completely rational decisions.

0:29:46 > 0:29:50The man's irrational behaviour isn't the cops' only concern.

0:29:50 > 0:29:54- Also, last night, he has supposedly been drinking a bit.- Right.

0:29:54 > 0:29:57Not only does this chap have some mental health issues,

0:29:57 > 0:30:00it sounds like he's been drinking, as well.

0:30:00 > 0:30:04So, alcohol could well be a factor in how he reacts with us

0:30:04 > 0:30:06and how he's dealt with.

0:30:06 > 0:30:07The main problem is, obviously,

0:30:07 > 0:30:10to mitigate any further problems that we might have, to

0:30:10 > 0:30:13people in the vicinity, other road users and people in the village.

0:30:13 > 0:30:17So, our idea is to contain either the person and the vehicle,

0:30:17 > 0:30:21but unfortunately, in a fast-moving situation like this, we've got

0:30:21 > 0:30:22to take things as we find them.

0:30:22 > 0:30:26For officers like Dan and Pete, prosecuting drunk

0:30:26 > 0:30:32or illegal driving is key to making the North Yorkshire roads safer.

0:30:34 > 0:30:39But, with just 60 traffic officers covering 3,200 square miles,

0:30:39 > 0:30:45they commonly work single-crewed, often in testing situations.

0:30:47 > 0:30:50Helping them to respond to the many reports of accidents

0:30:50 > 0:30:54and incidents involving illegal or drunk drivers

0:30:54 > 0:30:58is a busy team of men and women at the force control centre in York.

0:31:01 > 0:31:02Operators like Dave Hopkinson.

0:31:02 > 0:31:06I'll be dealing with, say, maybe 12 officers at any one time,

0:31:06 > 0:31:08with seven or eight different incidents,

0:31:08 > 0:31:10and they're all needing information passing back.

0:31:10 > 0:31:13You may have one officer that's 30 miles away on his own,

0:31:13 > 0:31:16that's gone 30 miles out of his way on his own,

0:31:16 > 0:31:19sending a single officer to a potentially serious incident,

0:31:19 > 0:31:22and him going to that, knowing that his nearest backup

0:31:22 > 0:31:23might be 50 minutes away.

0:31:23 > 0:31:27So that's just one downside of policing such a large area.

0:31:29 > 0:31:33Today, the team is dealing with a major road traffic collision, or RTC.

0:31:33 > 0:31:39We've got reports of a road traffic accident on the old A1, the A63.

0:31:39 > 0:31:43John shouted across, it's a serious RTC,

0:31:43 > 0:31:47a heavy goods vehicle versus a car. Fire and ambulance are en route.

0:31:47 > 0:31:50Soon as I knew that, the first thing I'm thinking is, where's

0:31:50 > 0:31:53our nearest available units so that I can get them travelling to it?

0:31:53 > 0:31:56Somewhere on the old stretch of the A1 along here,

0:31:56 > 0:31:59we're not certain exactly where. I've got units just coming up now.

0:31:59 > 0:32:02The nature of being somebody trapped, that will

0:32:02 > 0:32:05always make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up more,

0:32:05 > 0:32:08because the chances are it's going to be very, very serious.

0:32:08 > 0:32:09Top end of Fairburn,

0:32:09 > 0:32:13the top roundabout before the stretch of the A1, closed

0:32:13 > 0:32:14the road at...

0:32:14 > 0:32:17- Highways are aware, aren't they? - Yeah.

0:32:17 > 0:32:23Fire brigade there, ambulance is there, media aware.

0:32:23 > 0:32:26You think, right, this one's going to keep us busy for a bit

0:32:26 > 0:32:27and then there's a little voice going,

0:32:27 > 0:32:30"somebody could be seriously hurt in this",

0:32:30 > 0:32:33which puts things in perspective.

0:32:33 > 0:32:35It could be life-threatening, but at this stage,

0:32:35 > 0:32:36we honestly don't know

0:32:36 > 0:32:39until we manage to get the casualty out of the vehicle,

0:32:39 > 0:32:40which they are working on now,

0:32:40 > 0:32:43so I'm just awaiting further updates.

0:32:43 > 0:32:46The HGV driver has been breathalysed at the scene.

0:32:46 > 0:32:49News reaches the ops team.

0:32:52 > 0:32:56Driver of the HGV has just blown 104.

0:32:56 > 0:32:57That's scandalous.

0:32:57 > 0:33:01A professional driver, practically three times over the limit.

0:33:01 > 0:33:03It shocked all of us, to be honest.

0:33:03 > 0:33:06This is the first one I've come across, to be honest. Somebody

0:33:06 > 0:33:10with 38 tonnes' worth of vehicle, obviously nearly three times over the limit.

0:33:10 > 0:33:14Unfortunately it's the innocent party or possible innocent party

0:33:14 > 0:33:16in a car that's ended up the serious casualty.

0:33:16 > 0:33:19Trapped in the wreckage is a 19-year-old driver

0:33:19 > 0:33:22and Dave has concerns he may not survive.

0:33:28 > 0:33:31Back on the edge of the North Yorkshire Moors

0:33:31 > 0:33:34in Wombleton, TC Dan Hughes and Sergeant Pete Wood are closing

0:33:34 > 0:33:38in on the man who took his mother's tractor for a joyride.

0:33:39 > 0:33:43The suspect has abandoned the tractor outside his home

0:33:43 > 0:33:46but is still at large and there are concerns for his wellbeing.

0:33:46 > 0:33:50We have come round now, used our vehicles to block this tractor in,

0:33:50 > 0:33:53which as you can see it's quite a reasonably-sized tractor

0:33:53 > 0:33:56and it's towing that big heavy roller.

0:33:56 > 0:33:59That could potentially do an awful lot of damage to other

0:33:59 > 0:34:00property or people.

0:34:02 > 0:34:05Finding the man now is a priority.

0:34:05 > 0:34:09The cops are greeted by his concerned mum.

0:34:15 > 0:34:18At the moment we want to speak to him and we want to see how he is.

0:34:18 > 0:34:19Yes, all right then.

0:34:19 > 0:34:24- Don't let them out. These are his dogs.- All right.

0:34:24 > 0:34:28Get hold of one of them, you big lads. They won't hurt you.

0:34:28 > 0:34:31- They won't hurt, will they?- No.- They are just boisterous, aren't they?

0:34:31 > 0:34:35This has a thing on because he will bite, that dog.

0:34:35 > 0:34:38- Have we got anywhere we can tie him up outside for now? - No, I'll take him in.

0:34:38 > 0:34:41- Can we check that he's not in the house, please?- I will. Get in. Get in.

0:34:41 > 0:34:45While Pete stays behind with the man's mother,

0:34:45 > 0:34:48Dan and Andy widen the search.

0:34:50 > 0:34:52We'll just... That's the chap's mother says that he's

0:34:52 > 0:34:55not in the property, although in fairness she's only just

0:34:55 > 0:34:59turned up, so we're just going to make a search of some of these

0:34:59 > 0:35:01outbuildings and see if there's any sign of him.

0:35:01 > 0:35:05Pete tries to get to the bottom of why the tractor was taken.

0:35:05 > 0:35:10- Has there been anything that has caused the problems today? - Well, he just said to me

0:35:10 > 0:35:13when he went, "I don't care any bloody more," he said, "I'm sick of it."

0:35:13 > 0:35:16- I've looked after that lad for five years now.- Right.

0:35:16 > 0:35:22I got his seizures down. I got the pregabalin off that was making him smash everything.

0:35:22 > 0:35:26As a fuller picture starts to emerge of the man's vulnerable state,

0:35:26 > 0:35:29finding him becomes a matter of urgency.

0:35:31 > 0:35:34The search is stepped up with a police dog

0:35:34 > 0:35:36and it's not long before he's spotted.

0:35:37 > 0:35:39Which way are we?

0:35:41 > 0:35:45Now one of my colleagues has seen the chap across the fields

0:35:45 > 0:35:48at the rear of the premises, so we're just trying to get him contained now.

0:35:48 > 0:35:50'So we'll stay with him.'

0:35:50 > 0:35:53'We've apprehended him in the field.'

0:35:53 > 0:35:56He's arrested by Andy, the local officer, who knows him well.

0:35:56 > 0:35:59I am arresting you on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle...

0:35:59 > 0:36:02- Yes, I know.- Of taking a vehicle without lawful consent,

0:36:02 > 0:36:05- do you understand that? - Yeah. Can I light my fag?

0:36:05 > 0:36:07He's calm and compliant with us.

0:36:07 > 0:36:10Can you dispose of that in a better way than I can?

0:36:10 > 0:36:15Upon arresting the man, the cops discover him drinking a can of beer.

0:36:15 > 0:36:19- I've arrested Ray, right? - You've arrested him?!

0:36:19 > 0:36:20I need his medication for tonight,

0:36:20 > 0:36:23can I have his medications for tonight, please?

0:36:23 > 0:36:24- You've arrested him?- Yes, I have.

0:36:24 > 0:36:26Well, then I want to speak to the Chief of Police,

0:36:26 > 0:36:28- and I want the press here. - That's no problem at all.

0:36:28 > 0:36:30Well, where is he? I want to see him.

0:36:30 > 0:36:32And I want you to go up there...

0:36:32 > 0:36:34- No, you're not demanding me to do things.- Well, whoever.

0:36:34 > 0:36:36Shirley, Shirley, what we need to do,

0:36:36 > 0:36:40we need to get the matter sorted out, all right, try and calm down.

0:36:40 > 0:36:42I can't calm down! Caused all this...

0:36:42 > 0:36:44'She's obviously had to put up with quite a lot over the years.'

0:36:44 > 0:36:47And we're just trying to reassure her there that we'll

0:36:47 > 0:36:48do our utmost to look after him.

0:36:48 > 0:36:52There's obviously a long-standing history in relation to this family

0:36:52 > 0:36:56and their dealings with the police, and some mental health issues.

0:36:56 > 0:36:58Unfortunately, our hands are tied,

0:36:58 > 0:37:02he's driven off in this tractor without having a licence for it.

0:37:02 > 0:37:03Once we got him into custody,

0:37:03 > 0:37:06we revealed he was actually disqualified from driving.

0:37:06 > 0:37:08Had no insurance for the vehicle,

0:37:08 > 0:37:09he'd taken a vehicle he shouldn't have had.

0:37:09 > 0:37:12No matter what issues he has mentally, that doesn't

0:37:12 > 0:37:16preclude the fact that he shouldn't be out driving on the road.

0:37:16 > 0:37:19We could have been chasing him round the village,

0:37:19 > 0:37:22he could have been crashing into cars, causing damage,

0:37:22 > 0:37:23hurting people,

0:37:23 > 0:37:27and we could have had to maybe take some more forceful action.

0:37:31 > 0:37:33Back at the control centre in York,

0:37:33 > 0:37:35Dave and colleague Gemma are dealing

0:37:35 > 0:37:38with a serious collision between an HGV and a car

0:37:38 > 0:37:42on the A1 when news comes through on the trapped car driver.

0:37:44 > 0:37:49We received an update to say that the person who's driving the vehicle

0:37:49 > 0:37:54that's been in the collision has actually, is actually deceased now.

0:37:57 > 0:38:00It's very heartbreaking when you find out that somebody's

0:38:00 > 0:38:03lost their life through no fault of their own,

0:38:03 > 0:38:04an innocent party has died.

0:38:04 > 0:38:07We're fortunate that we're separated from it,

0:38:07 > 0:38:10we're in a control room, so we're not there seeing the incidents

0:38:10 > 0:38:13that the guys on the ground and the girls on the ground can see.

0:38:13 > 0:38:15It can be harrowing.

0:38:15 > 0:38:18For the traffic officers on the ground,

0:38:18 > 0:38:22dealing with fatals is part of the job, but never easy.

0:38:22 > 0:38:26I can still remember the very first fatal road collision I went to,

0:38:26 > 0:38:29when I'd only been in the job for two days, and I thought,

0:38:29 > 0:38:33"What have I let myself in for here?" It was horrific.

0:38:33 > 0:38:36And all the other guys that were there, the other officers,

0:38:36 > 0:38:38seemed to be just getting on with things,

0:38:38 > 0:38:41and you think to yourself, "Is there something wrong with me?

0:38:41 > 0:38:43"Are they OK? What is it?"

0:38:43 > 0:38:44We'll need an officer to attend

0:38:44 > 0:38:47the registered keeper's home address in West Yorkshire.

0:38:47 > 0:38:51Make the knock on the door and, eh,

0:38:51 > 0:38:53speak to whoever's at the home address.

0:38:55 > 0:38:58I'd be lying if I said I haven't come away from some families

0:38:58 > 0:39:01and just sat in the car and shed a tear,

0:39:01 > 0:39:02after I've met them.

0:39:04 > 0:39:10260 people died across Britain as a result of drink-driving in 2013.

0:39:10 > 0:39:1315% of all road deaths.

0:39:15 > 0:39:18The HGV driver was found to be three times over the legal limit.

0:39:18 > 0:39:21If found guilty of death by dangerous driving,

0:39:21 > 0:39:24he'll face a lengthy prison sentence.

0:39:28 > 0:39:30SIREN WAILS

0:39:30 > 0:39:32Ten miles from the control centre,

0:39:32 > 0:39:37one of North Yorkshire's busiest highways, the A64, near Tadcaster.

0:39:39 > 0:39:40It's five o'clock.

0:39:40 > 0:39:44TC John Kendall is an hour into his shift when he gets

0:39:44 > 0:39:48an urgent shout to attend a serious road traffic collision.

0:39:48 > 0:39:51Yeah, 10-4, I'm en route. Till we know what's involved.

0:39:54 > 0:39:58The A64 links Leeds and York with the east coast, and the accident

0:39:58 > 0:40:00John's responding to is

0:40:00 > 0:40:03on a congested part of a single carriageway.

0:40:06 > 0:40:10It's a bit of an accident blackspot, unfortunately, this road up here.

0:40:10 > 0:40:14So we'll get ourselves there and see what we see.

0:40:14 > 0:40:16If it's serious,

0:40:16 > 0:40:20then this busy link road could be shut down for hours to come.

0:40:22 > 0:40:25My first thoughts were, "I wonder what it will be",

0:40:25 > 0:40:27because I've been to quite a few collisions there.

0:40:27 > 0:40:29Some of them can be relatively minor,

0:40:29 > 0:40:32where people walk away without any serious injury,

0:40:32 > 0:40:34others can be a bit more serious.

0:40:34 > 0:40:38Fairly quickly it becomes apparent that it's quite a serious accident.

0:40:39 > 0:40:42Ambulance crews are already attending.

0:40:42 > 0:40:44As first traffic officer on the scene,

0:40:44 > 0:40:46John has to quickly establish control.

0:40:48 > 0:40:50Who's the driver of this car?

0:40:50 > 0:40:53- The driver's over there, he's OK. - We weren't in any other cars.

0:40:53 > 0:40:55All right, you're just one of them.

0:40:55 > 0:40:57- Did you see what happened at all? - Yeah, yeah.

0:40:57 > 0:41:00- Can you just bear with me and I'll try and get some...?- No problem.

0:41:00 > 0:41:03Sometimes it's a bit like the duck on the top of the river

0:41:03 > 0:41:05that looks like it's going on nice and serenely

0:41:05 > 0:41:07but, underneath, it's paddling like crazy.

0:41:07 > 0:41:09'You've got to remain calm,

0:41:09 > 0:41:13'you've got to use your experience you've gathered over the years.'

0:41:13 > 0:41:16I've got a trapped driver there. Got a guy here with chest injuries.

0:41:16 > 0:41:19'The driver was trapped in the driver's seat

0:41:19 > 0:41:22'and the guy in the front passenger seat was also being treated.'

0:41:22 > 0:41:25So, I was getting to be a bit anxious at this point

0:41:25 > 0:41:27and thinking, right, this could be serious.

0:41:28 > 0:41:32If possible, could you get me another unit to assist with traffic?

0:41:32 > 0:41:35Because we're right in the middle of the junction.

0:41:35 > 0:41:39With the road blocked, John begins to take witness statements.

0:41:39 > 0:41:42The taxi driver pulled out in...

0:41:42 > 0:41:45- From here?- Yeah.- Right.

0:41:45 > 0:41:48It didn't stand a chance of stopping.

0:41:48 > 0:41:50This taxi's unfortunately pulled out directly into the path

0:41:50 > 0:41:52- of this car here.- Yeah.

0:41:52 > 0:41:55Fortunately, the driver of the van that collided with the taxi

0:41:55 > 0:41:57is uninjured.

0:41:59 > 0:42:00Right.

0:42:05 > 0:42:09Working out why the taxi pulled out will be the next task.

0:42:09 > 0:42:13But, as the sole traffic officer on the scene, John's up against it.

0:42:14 > 0:42:17As well as investigating the crash, he has to make the scene safe,

0:42:17 > 0:42:19and monitor any injuries.

0:42:19 > 0:42:22I know it's early days. How are we doing with all the casualties?

0:42:22 > 0:42:24Anybody that's serious or life-threatening?

0:42:24 > 0:42:26Well, the driver and the back-seat passenger

0:42:26 > 0:42:29- aren't looking particularly great. - Right.

0:42:29 > 0:42:34- Are they bad-bad? - Could, potentially, yeah.

0:42:34 > 0:42:36- RADIO BEEPS - Yeah. I've just been speaking

0:42:36 > 0:42:39with the ambulance reference the state of the casualties.

0:42:39 > 0:42:43It is slightly early days yet. But, until we've got two of them out,

0:42:43 > 0:42:46they're not able to tell me the level of the injuries.

0:42:46 > 0:42:49So, I'm going to have to close the road for now.

0:42:50 > 0:42:53As the only traffic cover in the York and Selby area,

0:42:53 > 0:42:56John's got a bit of a wait for backup.

0:42:56 > 0:42:59It always seems like a long time, when you're asking for help,

0:42:59 > 0:43:02and you're at that scene, and you want other people to get to you.

0:43:02 > 0:43:04- RADIO:- Alfa Romeo 1-0-5.

0:43:04 > 0:43:06Hello, mate.

0:43:06 > 0:43:0915 minutes after his arrival at the scene,

0:43:09 > 0:43:13backup appears, along with fire crews to attend the trapped driver.

0:43:19 > 0:43:24One of the passengers, the father of the taxi driver, is removed.

0:43:24 > 0:43:27But the driver will need to be cut from the car.

0:43:29 > 0:43:32We're a bit concerned about the driver of the car,

0:43:32 > 0:43:35in terms of the fact he was trapped in the vehicle.

0:43:35 > 0:43:38What I'm doing is waiting until colleagues have got

0:43:38 > 0:43:40these people out, and then we'll be able to get a better update

0:43:40 > 0:43:43on what's actually happened, and how they stand.

0:43:44 > 0:43:46Then there's a crucial update from the paramedics.

0:43:46 > 0:43:49Do you consider it life-threatening at the moment, potentially?

0:43:49 > 0:43:52At this moment, it's potentially life-threatening.

0:43:52 > 0:43:53The driver, I'm just going to check out.

0:43:53 > 0:43:56- The guy on the back, he is not too bad.- Seems to be all right.

0:43:56 > 0:43:57I just briefly spoke to him.

0:43:57 > 0:44:00All I've got, I think it's father and son.

0:44:00 > 0:44:03So, this is the moment, I think, when I've got the update

0:44:03 > 0:44:06that makes me play my final card, if you like, which is,

0:44:06 > 0:44:09right, this is a potential fatal accident.

0:44:09 > 0:44:13So, I suppose, if you like, it ups the ante on the investigation,

0:44:13 > 0:44:15and the levels of our concern.

0:44:15 > 0:44:17So, I'm calling for extra help now

0:44:17 > 0:44:20to make other people aware of what we've got.

0:44:21 > 0:44:23If there are any fatalities,

0:44:23 > 0:44:26John needs to treat the accident site as a crime scene,

0:44:26 > 0:44:28and must now lock the area down

0:44:28 > 0:44:32to preserve any evidence until crash investigators arrive.

0:44:33 > 0:44:36Once they're out of the vehicle, I'll be able to make a better call,

0:44:36 > 0:44:38a better judgment, and I'll let you know soon as I can.

0:44:38 > 0:44:40But that's easier said than done

0:44:40 > 0:44:43when you're the only traffic officer attending.

0:44:43 > 0:44:45A number of problems, logistical problems at the scene

0:44:45 > 0:44:48because we've got a lot of people,

0:44:48 > 0:44:52three casualties of the vehicle that's there in front of us.

0:44:52 > 0:44:56We've got both carriageways of the A64 closed at the moment.

0:44:56 > 0:44:59So, logistically, we've got a massive amount of traffic.

0:44:59 > 0:45:03But, my biggest concern is making sure we preserve

0:45:03 > 0:45:07as best we can this scene here for our investigation.

0:45:09 > 0:45:15As well as dealing with more than 2,500 casualties every year,

0:45:15 > 0:45:18North Yorkshire's traffic officers also monitor the traffic flow

0:45:18 > 0:45:22on its busiest road, a 40-mile stretch of the A1 motorway.

0:45:24 > 0:45:26We have one of the major arterial routes

0:45:26 > 0:45:27from north to south of England,

0:45:27 > 0:45:30going right through the middle of our county.

0:45:30 > 0:45:3280,000 vehicles travel

0:45:32 > 0:45:35on North Yorkshire's stretch of the A1 every day.

0:45:35 > 0:45:37And Steve Gardner is back on patrol,

0:45:37 > 0:45:40keeping his eye on the fast-moving traffic.

0:45:41 > 0:45:45Traffic in North Yorkshire is fantastic because, basically,

0:45:45 > 0:45:49I get left alone, I'm my own boss. My patrol car is my office.

0:45:49 > 0:45:52A good day for me is variety.

0:45:52 > 0:45:55'Today, Steve is on the lookout for an offence

0:45:55 > 0:46:00responsible for 12% of all fatal collisions.

0:46:00 > 0:46:03Speeding is prevalent.

0:46:03 > 0:46:07I can sit on a motorway less than two minutes

0:46:07 > 0:46:09and catch someone speeding.

0:46:09 > 0:46:11It's there every minute of every day.

0:46:11 > 0:46:14And, unfortunately, if we do have a motorway accident,

0:46:14 > 0:46:17it usually involves speed.

0:46:17 > 0:46:22Steve's parked up near Boroughbridge, armed with a speed gun.

0:46:24 > 0:46:26Speed limit's 70.

0:46:26 > 0:46:30Um. The government allows 10% plus two.

0:46:30 > 0:46:36So, you're entitled to drive, I suppose, at 79mph.

0:46:36 > 0:46:38Um.

0:46:38 > 0:46:41There's lot of talk of them putting it up to 80.

0:46:42 > 0:46:46In my books, if the limit's 70, and people tend to drive at 80,

0:46:46 > 0:46:50if they put the limit up to 80, then I think people will drive at 90.

0:46:50 > 0:46:53This is a very, very accurate system.

0:46:53 > 0:46:57You can pick out a vehicle from up to 2,000 feet away.

0:46:57 > 0:47:00And, with one in eight of us exceeding the speed limit

0:47:00 > 0:47:05on Britain's motorways, it's not long before Steve clocks an offender.

0:47:05 > 0:47:08D-A-W. Personalised plate.

0:47:08 > 0:47:11Just picked up a speeder on the motorway there, lane three,

0:47:11 > 0:47:17doing 97 in a 70 limit.

0:47:17 > 0:47:19So, let's see if we can catch up with them now.

0:47:22 > 0:47:25Yeah, he's tucked into lane two there,

0:47:25 > 0:47:27personalised plate on a white BMW.

0:47:28 > 0:47:31He's right up the chuff of somebody else there as well,

0:47:31 > 0:47:33which is just ridiculous.

0:47:33 > 0:47:37Look at that following distance, just rubbish.

0:47:37 > 0:47:4197mph is very quick, especially in a busy motorway we've got today.

0:47:41 > 0:47:44I'll get him pulled over now that he's committed to northbound.

0:47:44 > 0:47:46I mean, she's flying.

0:47:46 > 0:47:49Not only is she flying, she's right up behind people, pushing.

0:47:49 > 0:47:51Pushing, pushing.

0:47:52 > 0:47:55To me, that is just completely irresponsible.

0:47:57 > 0:48:00Can you come and take a seat in my car, please?

0:48:00 > 0:48:01Will the kids be all right?

0:48:01 > 0:48:04I'm quite shocked as I approach the car. It's a female driver

0:48:04 > 0:48:07with a very young child, in fact, two young children

0:48:07 > 0:48:09in the back seat of the car.

0:48:09 > 0:48:12And this person is doing 97mph

0:48:12 > 0:48:14with young children in the back of the car.

0:48:20 > 0:48:23OK. I've stopped you for an offence of speeding.

0:48:23 > 0:48:26Can you tell me what the speed limit is on the motorway, please?

0:48:26 > 0:48:2970 or 80. 80, 70?

0:48:29 > 0:48:32- Which one is it?- 70.- OK.

0:48:32 > 0:48:33How fast were you going?

0:48:35 > 0:48:39Every time I ask that question, how fast do you think you were going?

0:48:39 > 0:48:43I would say 90% of the replies are 85mph.

0:48:43 > 0:48:47And it's just a figure that comes out with every driver I stop.

0:48:47 > 0:48:5197mph in a 70 limit is far, far too fast,

0:48:51 > 0:48:54and bordering dangerous driving, OK?

0:48:54 > 0:48:57Um. I've been on the motorway now for a good hour-and-a-half,

0:48:57 > 0:49:00I've not seen anyone doing anywhere near that speed, OK?

0:49:00 > 0:49:04And, when you did see me, you did slow down, OK?

0:49:04 > 0:49:05You've pulled into lane two.

0:49:05 > 0:49:07And then you're following the car in front of you

0:49:07 > 0:49:10with no stopping distance whatsoever.

0:49:10 > 0:49:13So, if that car in front of you had to brake for some unknown reason,

0:49:13 > 0:49:15you would have slammed straight into the back of it.

0:49:15 > 0:49:17You've got two kids in the back of your car.

0:49:17 > 0:49:19To me, you're not aware of what's going on around you

0:49:19 > 0:49:23in a motor vehicle. You're not driving safely on a motorway.

0:49:25 > 0:49:28You wouldn't believe how many people will tell me that, in the car.

0:49:28 > 0:49:30I've been doing this job for donkey's years.

0:49:30 > 0:49:33Most people say, "I don't normally drive like that."

0:49:33 > 0:49:34It's no excuse.

0:49:34 > 0:49:36You've driven like that today. You're not a great driver today.

0:49:36 > 0:49:38'That's just a rubbish excuse.'

0:49:38 > 0:49:41I mean, if you're absolutely busting,

0:49:41 > 0:49:45then pull off the motorway, get into a lay-by somewhere.

0:49:45 > 0:49:49She's passed at least three junctions in the last ten miles.

0:49:49 > 0:49:52Despite the woman's excuse,

0:49:52 > 0:49:56her excessive speed means that she won't be given a roadside ticket.

0:49:56 > 0:49:58She will have to go to court.

0:49:58 > 0:50:02I know I'm a competent driver. I know you'll say otherwise.

0:50:02 > 0:50:03But I know.

0:50:03 > 0:50:05It doesn't matter, I was in the wrong, isn't it?

0:50:05 > 0:50:07I shouldn't have done it.

0:50:07 > 0:50:10My son was bursting for a wee. He's playing on his game as well.

0:50:10 > 0:50:13So, one minute he's like, "Mummy, I need the toilet."

0:50:13 > 0:50:15And then he's playing on his game, so he forgets, you know.

0:50:15 > 0:50:18And then he'll remind me again, "Mummy, I need the toilet."

0:50:18 > 0:50:21He said, "Mum, I'm going to have to do it on the back seat."

0:50:21 > 0:50:24I, too, have a young family.

0:50:24 > 0:50:27I understand what it's like when a child says, "I need a wee."

0:50:27 > 0:50:29Then, a minute later says they don't need a wee.

0:50:29 > 0:50:31Then they need a wee again.

0:50:31 > 0:50:34But, at the end of the day, once a child says to me, "I need a wee",

0:50:34 > 0:50:36I'm looking for an exit.

0:50:36 > 0:50:40I'll be looking for a way of getting off the motorway.

0:50:40 > 0:50:42Yes, sympathise with this woman all you like,

0:50:42 > 0:50:44but she's just motoring to try to get home.

0:50:44 > 0:50:47- All right, then. Thank you very much.- Thank you.

0:50:47 > 0:50:49Have a safe day. Bye.

0:50:50 > 0:50:53Although she could be facing a driving ban,

0:50:53 > 0:50:55the driver is unrepentant.

0:50:55 > 0:50:57Some people do drive dangerously.

0:50:57 > 0:51:01I don't feel like I was driving dangerously, you know.

0:51:04 > 0:51:07Everybody is different the way they drive.

0:51:07 > 0:51:09I felt like I was in control of the car. I've got my children there.

0:51:09 > 0:51:11If I didn't think I was in control of the car,

0:51:11 > 0:51:13I wouldn't be going that fast.

0:51:13 > 0:51:16But that's not up to me, apparently, to be the judge of, you know.

0:51:16 > 0:51:19So, I think it's a bit unfair.

0:51:19 > 0:51:21But, you can't fight the law, can you?

0:51:24 > 0:51:26You can't fight the law.

0:51:29 > 0:51:31Peed in the car!

0:51:33 > 0:51:36The price of a car valet isn't the only cost she could be counting.

0:51:36 > 0:51:39It could have an impact on her life in the fact that,

0:51:39 > 0:51:42if she was working for somebody and needed a driving licence

0:51:42 > 0:51:46and was disqualified, then she would lose her job, lose her livelihood.

0:51:46 > 0:51:48It could have a massive impact.

0:51:48 > 0:51:52But it would have a bigger impact on some other family

0:51:52 > 0:51:55if she'd crashed into someone at 97mph.

0:51:55 > 0:51:57So...

0:51:57 > 0:51:59She's just not a great driver.

0:52:02 > 0:52:04Back on the A64 near Tadcaster,

0:52:04 > 0:52:07one of the injured passengers from the car has

0:52:07 > 0:52:10life-threatening chest and abdominal injuries,

0:52:10 > 0:52:12and needs transportation to hospital fast.

0:52:16 > 0:52:18With the roads now closed,

0:52:18 > 0:52:22an air ambulance arrives to take the injured passenger into care.

0:52:24 > 0:52:26'Bearing in mind at this point,

0:52:26 > 0:52:28'I've still only got one other bobby with me.

0:52:28 > 0:52:33'The helicopter's coming. So, that needs somewhere suitable to land.'

0:52:33 > 0:52:36The air ambulance is a fantastic, fantastic bit of kit.

0:52:36 > 0:52:40'It's a great tool to get people to hospital very quickly.'

0:52:40 > 0:52:43They often refer to the golden hour of treatment,

0:52:43 > 0:52:46from initial incident to getting somebody to hospital,

0:52:46 > 0:52:48it can make a massive amount of difference.

0:52:48 > 0:52:51While the passenger is air-lifted to safety,

0:52:51 > 0:52:54the taxi driver is still trapped in the car.

0:52:54 > 0:52:58What we'll have to do is, first of all, get him cut from the vehicle.

0:52:58 > 0:53:00Once he's actually cut from the vehicle,

0:53:00 > 0:53:01they'll want to get him onto a spinal board.

0:53:03 > 0:53:07Despite his condition, he could be to blame for the accident.

0:53:07 > 0:53:10Two independent witnesses are basically saying that

0:53:10 > 0:53:12it's the taxi driver's fault on the face of things,

0:53:12 > 0:53:14as we can tell at the moment.

0:53:14 > 0:53:17The question now is, why a professional driver

0:53:17 > 0:53:20made such a serious error of judgment.

0:53:23 > 0:53:28We've just had some information from the fire brigade, fire service,

0:53:28 > 0:53:32that they could smell alcohol coming from that car,

0:53:32 > 0:53:35possibly from the driver, so it could be that alcohol

0:53:35 > 0:53:38is going to be a factor in the accident.

0:53:38 > 0:53:42Traffic officers like John are only too aware of the consequences

0:53:42 > 0:53:44of driving while over the limit.

0:53:46 > 0:53:50From a personal point of view, I've seen some of the collisions

0:53:50 > 0:53:54that have been caused by people who have had a drink.

0:53:54 > 0:53:57And I look at that, I've got a family,

0:53:57 > 0:54:00I don't want any of my family to be involved in an accident

0:54:00 > 0:54:02with some drink-driver.

0:54:02 > 0:54:05The taxi driver has got to deal with the fact that he's had a crash

0:54:05 > 0:54:08where his father, who is quite elderly, has been hurt.

0:54:08 > 0:54:12And that he's got to live with that.

0:54:12 > 0:54:14Steady, move. Hang on.

0:54:14 > 0:54:17- A little bit more.- Yeah.

0:54:17 > 0:54:20The driver is finally freed, and rushed to hospital.

0:54:20 > 0:54:23Meanwhile, collision investigator Dave Taylor arrives

0:54:23 > 0:54:27to carry out a forensics investigation of the scene.

0:54:31 > 0:54:33As I say to quite a lot of officers,

0:54:33 > 0:54:39if somebody had come onto the A64 at 5.30 this morning or this afternoon

0:54:39 > 0:54:41with a shotgun, and killed somebody,

0:54:41 > 0:54:44nobody would be allowed into this scene.

0:54:44 > 0:54:48That is exactly the same what has happened.

0:54:48 > 0:54:51What you've got here is, you've got two people

0:54:51 > 0:54:54driving lethal weapons, ie, cars.

0:54:54 > 0:54:59And someone has been injured as a result of someone using that.

0:54:59 > 0:55:01That's the analogy that I use.

0:55:01 > 0:55:03If the driver survives

0:55:03 > 0:55:06and one of the other occupants dies in that vehicle,

0:55:06 > 0:55:10then he is culpable, and he potentially would be responsible,

0:55:10 > 0:55:13and we'd be looking at a criminal investigation then.

0:55:13 > 0:55:17So, albeit that we have got other witnesses who say

0:55:17 > 0:55:20that the taxi pulled out, we've got to be absolutely certain.

0:55:20 > 0:55:23We've got to gather as much evidence as we can that, if need be,

0:55:23 > 0:55:26we could take a watertight case to court.

0:55:27 > 0:55:30An alcohol reading taken from the injured taxi driver

0:55:30 > 0:55:33confirms he is over twice the legal limit.

0:55:34 > 0:55:36And further investigation of the taxi

0:55:36 > 0:55:39throws up more potential evidence.

0:55:39 > 0:55:42We found that, actually, when he's pulled out of the junction,

0:55:42 > 0:55:44the taxi driver was in third gear.

0:55:44 > 0:55:47Bear in mind, as well, his judgment is impaired at that point

0:55:47 > 0:55:49by the fact that he's had a drink.

0:55:49 > 0:55:53So, he's seen a gap which he thought was safe to go,

0:55:53 > 0:55:55but he's in third gear.

0:55:55 > 0:55:57That means, when he tries to pull away from the junction,

0:55:57 > 0:56:00he doesn't have that power to get him out of it immediately.

0:56:02 > 0:56:05If found guilty, the driver will lose his licence,

0:56:05 > 0:56:09and be banned from driving taxis for ten years.

0:56:09 > 0:56:11The taxi driver,

0:56:11 > 0:56:14he's suffered quite serious injuries as a result of this accident.

0:56:14 > 0:56:16He's probably the person who's come off worst of all.

0:56:16 > 0:56:20I know some people might say, well, good, that serves him right.

0:56:20 > 0:56:23But I am a sympathetic person

0:56:23 > 0:56:26and I can't help but have some sympathy for him.

0:56:28 > 0:56:31In a way, you could argue, actually, this guy's been lucky

0:56:31 > 0:56:33because nobody's been killed.

0:56:33 > 0:56:36The other people involved have made a good recovery.

0:56:36 > 0:56:39And he'll live to tell the tale.

0:56:39 > 0:56:43And, at some point, he can move on and, I hope, and I think he will,

0:56:43 > 0:56:46he'll learn a lesson and never do it again.

0:56:54 > 0:56:57The woman who crashed her car in Knaresborough

0:56:57 > 0:57:02was found guilty of being over the prescribed limit, and was fined £395,

0:57:02 > 0:57:06and disqualified for 20 months.

0:57:06 > 0:57:09The drunk pensioner who crashed into a line of parked cars

0:57:09 > 0:57:12whilst more than three times the legal alcohol limit,

0:57:12 > 0:57:16pleaded guilty at court, and was fined £800,

0:57:16 > 0:57:19and disqualified from driving for 25 months.

0:57:19 > 0:57:22The man who took his mother's tractor on a joyride

0:57:22 > 0:57:26was charged with disqualified driving and no insurance.

0:57:26 > 0:57:31He was disqualified for three years, and fined £400.

0:57:31 > 0:57:34At the police station, he blew under the legal alcohol limit.

0:57:35 > 0:57:39The lorry driver who collided with a car head on, killing the driver,

0:57:39 > 0:57:43was found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving,

0:57:43 > 0:57:46and sentenced to seven years and eight months.

0:57:47 > 0:57:49The woman caught speeding on the motorway

0:57:49 > 0:57:55as she raced to reach the loo was fined £70 with £105 costs,

0:57:55 > 0:57:58and received five points on her licence.

0:57:58 > 0:58:02And the taxi driver who collided with a transit van

0:58:02 > 0:58:06on the A64 near York pleaded guilty to being over the prescribed limit,

0:58:06 > 0:58:08and careless driving.

0:58:08 > 0:58:13He was fined £150, and disqualified for 16 months.