0:00:02 > 0:00:04The A1 - Britain's longest road...
0:00:05 > 0:00:10..stretching almost 400 miles from the City of London to the heart
0:00:10 > 0:00:12of the Scottish capital.
0:00:13 > 0:00:17Connecting two nations and passing through 18 counties,
0:00:17 > 0:00:21it's an unrivalled highway used by hundreds of thousands of vehicles
0:00:21 > 0:00:22every day.
0:00:22 > 0:00:26We're going southbound down the A1, on the northbound carriageway.
0:00:27 > 0:00:29But not all journeys go to plan.
0:00:32 > 0:00:35I thought, "Am I going to lose my life?"
0:00:35 > 0:00:39The cars are coming close, it is a dangerous place to be.
0:00:39 > 0:00:41Lives can hang in the balance.
0:00:41 > 0:00:44The rear end of that vehicle is unrecognisable.
0:00:44 > 0:00:46This is actually the bodywork of the car.
0:00:47 > 0:00:4924 hours a day...
0:00:49 > 0:00:51It's not a safe place here.
0:00:51 > 0:00:53..there's a team of people who keep us safe from harm.
0:00:55 > 0:00:56The police...
0:00:58 > 0:00:59..response teams...
0:00:59 > 0:01:02We don't know whether they've got the road closed, or what's happened.
0:01:02 > 0:01:04..and traffic officers...
0:01:06 > 0:01:07Keep going.
0:01:08 > 0:01:10..keeping Britain's most iconic road...
0:01:10 > 0:01:12Get out!
0:01:12 > 0:01:14..on the move.
0:01:14 > 0:01:17Substantially damaged flatbed truck in lane two.
0:01:18 > 0:01:21The A1, the monster that it is, it will start to return to normal.
0:01:26 > 0:01:30Coming up, a serious smash on a busy A1 junction...
0:01:30 > 0:01:32Paramedics are indicating a possible serious head injury,
0:01:32 > 0:01:36we are going to have to drag this vehicle clear of the barrier.
0:01:36 > 0:01:39..leaves the driver's life hanging in the balance.
0:01:39 > 0:01:41Ready to move when you want.
0:01:41 > 0:01:44Will treacherous weather hamper an emergency road repair?
0:01:44 > 0:01:47As you can see, the mist is coming in quite quickly.
0:01:47 > 0:01:50We could have low fog on the carriageway.
0:01:50 > 0:01:52And the driver racing through roadworks.
0:01:54 > 0:01:56She's doing 70mph in a 40,
0:01:56 > 0:01:59it's a risk to you, to me, to every other road user.
0:02:05 > 0:02:09There are over 45 million drivers licensed to travel on the UK's
0:02:09 > 0:02:14road network. And, despite improvements in car safety,
0:02:14 > 0:02:19there are still over 180,000 people injured in accidents every year.
0:02:21 > 0:02:25And the A1 sees more than its fair share, with over 2,000 annually.
0:02:28 > 0:02:31It's rush hour on a Friday afternoon north of Newcastle.
0:02:33 > 0:02:36A1 patrol officer PC Alan Keenleyside
0:02:36 > 0:02:39is responding to the latest emergency.
0:02:39 > 0:02:42There was a two-vehicle accident on the A1.
0:02:42 > 0:02:46It's actually junction 80, as we go off the A1 on the roundabout,
0:02:46 > 0:02:48and people have requested an ambulance.
0:02:48 > 0:02:51It means there could be serious injuries.
0:02:51 > 0:02:55We're starting to get our collisions now, 4.10pm in the afternoon.
0:02:55 > 0:03:00We just hope that this one here is not going to prove too problematic
0:03:00 > 0:03:02when we get to it.
0:03:02 > 0:03:05The reports are that the collision we are attending
0:03:05 > 0:03:07is just up on this bridge here.
0:03:07 > 0:03:08Just making our way round the roundabout.
0:03:08 > 0:03:12Can we see any collisions? Can we see any collisions?
0:03:12 > 0:03:14There they are.
0:03:14 > 0:03:17Alan's one of the first on the scene.
0:03:17 > 0:03:20HE TALKS ON RADIO
0:03:20 > 0:03:23A car has ploughed into the central reservation
0:03:23 > 0:03:26and the driver is still in her seat.
0:03:26 > 0:03:27Hi there, you all right?
0:03:27 > 0:03:31An emergency care assistant who was passing the scene has pulled over
0:03:31 > 0:03:34- to help.- I'm just in training at the minute.- OK.
0:03:34 > 0:03:38Non-responsive, I think she's gone into shock. She has a pain down the right-hand side.
0:03:38 > 0:03:41- OK.- I told the Ambulance Service...
0:03:41 > 0:03:43The ambulance can't get here soon enough.
0:03:43 > 0:03:46There is a crew just coming on the right there, might be us.
0:03:46 > 0:03:50But it's battling to make its way through rush-hour traffic.
0:03:50 > 0:03:52There's an emergency care assistant from the Ambulance Service,
0:03:52 > 0:03:55she's saying the lady is unresponsive.
0:03:55 > 0:03:57Certainly appears to be breathing
0:03:57 > 0:03:59but the crew is arriving on scene now.
0:04:06 > 0:04:09Hello, you all right? The driver of the Renault here,
0:04:09 > 0:04:11there's an emergency care assistant on the scene.
0:04:11 > 0:04:14She appears to have gone into shock, passed out.
0:04:14 > 0:04:16If the driver is seriously injured,
0:04:16 > 0:04:19she'll need urgent medical attention.
0:04:19 > 0:04:21Open your eyes, sweetheart.
0:04:21 > 0:04:23And the first signs aren't good.
0:04:23 > 0:04:25OK, you're in safe hands.
0:04:29 > 0:04:31I can get the fire brigade coming.
0:04:31 > 0:04:33And there's another serious problem.
0:04:33 > 0:04:37The driver's side door is wedged up against the central reservation.
0:04:37 > 0:04:41It means the ambulance crew are struggling to gain access to the car.
0:04:41 > 0:04:43Can you talk to us yet?
0:04:43 > 0:04:45Without medical attention,
0:04:45 > 0:04:49the driver's condition could deteriorate rapidly.
0:04:49 > 0:04:51We're thinking the lady's got a potentially serious head injury.
0:04:51 > 0:04:54We're now going to actually use our police vehicles
0:04:54 > 0:04:56to pull the vehicle around,
0:04:56 > 0:04:58whilst trying to support the lady as well,
0:04:58 > 0:04:59that will give access to the paramedics
0:04:59 > 0:05:01to get a quick extraction out of the vehicle.
0:05:04 > 0:05:08Rescuing the driver from her car quickly and safely is a job that is
0:05:08 > 0:05:12going to push Alan and the rest of the team to the limit.
0:05:17 > 0:05:22Like every part of Britain's 250,000 mile-long road network,
0:05:22 > 0:05:24the A1 takes a lot of maintenance...
0:05:26 > 0:05:30..and it contributes to the 2.2 million potholes which are filled in
0:05:30 > 0:05:33on roads across England and Wales each year.
0:05:34 > 0:05:37That's one every 15 seconds.
0:05:38 > 0:05:40On Britain's longest road,
0:05:40 > 0:05:42they're a constant headache for maintenance crews.
0:05:43 > 0:05:47With traffic passing close by, it can be a difficult job.
0:05:47 > 0:05:51And for road users, it can lead to delays while repairs are made.
0:05:51 > 0:05:56So when some large potholes need filling on a busy stretch of the A1
0:05:56 > 0:06:00near Stevenage, it's time to call in reinforcements.
0:06:00 > 0:06:01Received...
0:06:01 > 0:06:05Traffic patrol officers Steve Francis and Rob Taylor get the call
0:06:05 > 0:06:08to set up a rolling road block to hold back traffic
0:06:08 > 0:06:11while workers fill in the potholes.
0:06:11 > 0:06:14They've got one pothole on the slip road at junction seven,
0:06:14 > 0:06:18and they've got another secondary one on the main carriageway,
0:06:18 > 0:06:22so what we're going to try and do is to do both in one rolling road block.
0:06:22 > 0:06:26They both know how dangerous holes in the carriageway can be.
0:06:26 > 0:06:29The main concern is the motorbikes, obviously,
0:06:29 > 0:06:33cos it only takes one wheel for the rider to come off
0:06:33 > 0:06:37and injure themselves, and it can even cause a fatal accident.
0:06:37 > 0:06:39So it is quite a dangerous concern.
0:06:39 > 0:06:44In these conditions, the cold gets under the damaged tarmac,
0:06:44 > 0:06:48so you might have a little crack or a one-inch hole initially,
0:06:48 > 0:06:51and within a couple of hours you could have
0:06:51 > 0:06:53a 12-inch by four-inch hole
0:06:53 > 0:06:57and they are the ones that cause the most damage.
0:06:57 > 0:07:00With motorists travelling at up to 70mph,
0:07:00 > 0:07:04it's vital these latest potholes are filled in to prevent any accidents.
0:07:04 > 0:07:08But to do that, Rob and Steve will have to close the road.
0:07:08 > 0:07:11We've just come through the Hatfield Tunnel,
0:07:11 > 0:07:15I've asked signs and signals to be set, ready for the rolling roadblocks.
0:07:15 > 0:07:18But the traffic officers will have to deal with a big problem.
0:07:18 > 0:07:21As you can see ahead, the mist is coming in quite quickly.
0:07:21 > 0:07:24If it starts rolling in any more than it is at the moment,
0:07:24 > 0:07:28we could have low fog on the carriageway.
0:07:28 > 0:07:30I am doing a small weave,
0:07:30 > 0:07:33for the cars behind to realise something is happening.
0:07:33 > 0:07:36And you'll see that they're actually slowing down.
0:07:36 > 0:07:39So we are going to bring the traffic to a stop here.
0:07:39 > 0:07:44Steve explains the situation to stationary motorists, held up behind.
0:07:44 > 0:07:47We have two potholes ahead, one on the slip road,
0:07:47 > 0:07:49one on the main carriageway, pretty bad ones.
0:07:49 > 0:07:51We're repairing them at the moment.
0:07:51 > 0:07:53With traffic building quickly,
0:07:53 > 0:07:55there's pressure to get the job done,
0:07:55 > 0:07:58but now it's bigger than they first thought.
0:07:58 > 0:08:01They found a second pothole on there,
0:08:01 > 0:08:03so they've just done two instead of one.
0:08:03 > 0:08:07And they've got a third one to do now. Hopefully won't be long.
0:08:09 > 0:08:11With two potholes quickly filled,
0:08:11 > 0:08:14Rob and Steve slowly pull the traffic forward
0:08:14 > 0:08:15to the next repair site.
0:08:17 > 0:08:21But a motorcyclist has broken away too soon.
0:08:21 > 0:08:23The guy on the motorbike, I told him,
0:08:23 > 0:08:27go up the slip when I take him up the slip, but as you can see...
0:08:27 > 0:08:29And the funny thing about that is,
0:08:29 > 0:08:32you often find it is motorbikes that do that.
0:08:32 > 0:08:35They're the ones we're protecting because of the holes,
0:08:35 > 0:08:37you can see the repair.
0:08:37 > 0:08:40If he went up there at speed, he would have come off the bike.
0:08:41 > 0:08:44Drivers in the backed-up traffic are getting impatient,
0:08:44 > 0:08:48but just nine minutes after the traffic was halted...
0:08:48 > 0:08:52People are in a hurry but I think for the sake of a couple of minutes,
0:08:52 > 0:08:55it'll save the tyres and save the cars,
0:08:55 > 0:08:57save the motorbikes.
0:08:57 > 0:08:59..the third and final pothole is filled.
0:09:04 > 0:09:06- OK, you happy?- That's it, lads.
0:09:06 > 0:09:08Time to get the traffic moving again.
0:09:11 > 0:09:13Got to build the speed up.
0:09:13 > 0:09:16I tend to liken it to a motor race,
0:09:16 > 0:09:19where you might get a collision on a motor race,
0:09:19 > 0:09:21and then the safety car will come out.
0:09:21 > 0:09:24The way to see it would be a bit like that.
0:09:24 > 0:09:29I'd say three to four minutes per pothole, which is very good.
0:09:29 > 0:09:32I would've thought that's quite a minor inconvenience, considering
0:09:32 > 0:09:35what could have occurred if we had not filled it.
0:09:42 > 0:09:46More than 250 miles north, near Newcastle,
0:09:46 > 0:09:50A1 patrol officer PC Alan Keenleyside is at the scene
0:09:50 > 0:09:55of a serious collision between two cars on a busy roundabout.
0:09:55 > 0:09:58- Hi, there, you all right?- It's believed one of the drivers may be
0:09:58 > 0:10:00in a critical condition.
0:10:00 > 0:10:05Got a lady who's unresponsive in the driver's seat of this vehicle.
0:10:05 > 0:10:08Certainly appears to be breathing, but the crew is arriving on scene now.
0:10:10 > 0:10:13Her car has been wedged up against the central reservation,
0:10:13 > 0:10:17making it impossible for the ambulance crew to get to her.
0:10:17 > 0:10:18Open your eyes, sweetheart.
0:10:20 > 0:10:22The driver needs urgent treatment.
0:10:22 > 0:10:23I'll start jacking the car up.
0:10:23 > 0:10:28Alan must now move the car, so the team can get inside the vehicle.
0:10:28 > 0:10:29We're not hanging around,
0:10:29 > 0:10:33we're now using our police vehicles to pull the vehicle around
0:10:33 > 0:10:35while trying to support the lady as well.
0:10:35 > 0:10:37That will give access to the paramedics
0:10:37 > 0:10:39to get a quick extraction out of the vehicle.
0:10:39 > 0:10:41So time is a little bit of the essence now.
0:10:41 > 0:10:45Thankfully, Highways England traffic officers are also
0:10:45 > 0:10:48arriving at the scene to help manage the rush-hour congestion.
0:10:48 > 0:10:51Hello, you all right? Got a lady with a potentially serious head injury.
0:10:51 > 0:10:53Could you just take this lane out for two minutes?
0:10:53 > 0:10:56- Mint, thanks. - Alan has to work quickly.
0:10:59 > 0:11:01The driver has blown a pupil,
0:11:01 > 0:11:05a sign of a potentially serious head injury.
0:11:09 > 0:11:10Paramedics at Seaton Burn
0:11:10 > 0:11:13are indicating a possible serious head injury.
0:11:13 > 0:11:17We're going to have to drag this vehicle clear of the Armco barrier
0:11:17 > 0:11:20to get this lady out of the vehicle.
0:11:20 > 0:11:21Could you just make 27-92 aware?
0:11:29 > 0:11:30Ready to move when you want.
0:11:30 > 0:11:33Alan needs to be extremely careful.
0:11:33 > 0:11:35They're going to have to support her neck when we do this.
0:11:38 > 0:11:42Any sudden movement could make the driver's injuries even worse.
0:11:54 > 0:11:57Even though the traffic has only been stopped a few seconds,
0:11:57 > 0:12:01it's already caused a serious build-up of vehicles.
0:12:01 > 0:12:03Thanks, Paul.
0:12:04 > 0:12:08Finally, though, the medics can get to the injured driver.
0:12:09 > 0:12:13But they now believe her injuries are potentially so serious...
0:12:13 > 0:12:14Just relax.
0:12:14 > 0:12:18..they need to bring her out of the back of the car on a spinal board.
0:12:18 > 0:12:21- Keep going. - Just relax, that's fabulous.
0:12:21 > 0:12:24- Keep going.- You're doing marvellous.
0:12:24 > 0:12:26Can you talk to us yet?
0:12:28 > 0:12:32A spinal board is used to reduce the movement of an injured person.
0:12:32 > 0:12:37It's essential in preventing critical injuries from getting worse.
0:12:37 > 0:12:40Which way do you want to do this?
0:12:40 > 0:12:44Try and get under her arm and then it will be a case of one, two three...
0:12:44 > 0:12:45- Pull.- Little bits.- Yeah.
0:12:45 > 0:12:47And get her right up the board.
0:12:47 > 0:12:50If you can get her C-spine first, I can do the first push-up.
0:12:50 > 0:12:52Yeah.
0:12:52 > 0:12:55- Hold her.- Ready, steady, slide.
0:12:56 > 0:12:58- All right?- Everybody OK?- Yeah.
0:12:59 > 0:13:01Ready, steady, slide.
0:13:02 > 0:13:04A tiny bit more.
0:13:04 > 0:13:06Ready, steady, slide.
0:13:06 > 0:13:08This is an extremely delicate job.
0:13:08 > 0:13:13One wrong move could have very serious consequences.
0:13:13 > 0:13:15OK, you're in safe hands.
0:13:15 > 0:13:18But the medics will only know the full extent of the driver's injuries
0:13:18 > 0:13:21once she's been released from the vehicle.
0:13:24 > 0:13:27But it's not only accidents when rescue teams come to the help
0:13:27 > 0:13:30of stranded motorists on the A1.
0:13:32 > 0:13:36Every year, teams from Highways England and Transport Scotland
0:13:36 > 0:13:40deal with more than 4,500 breakdowns.
0:13:41 > 0:13:45Just six miles south down the A1 near Newcastle,
0:13:45 > 0:13:48traffic officers Peter Senior and Scott Wilson are responding
0:13:48 > 0:13:50to an emergency call.
0:13:50 > 0:13:52Apparently, up at junction 77,
0:13:52 > 0:13:55they've got a vehicle broken down in a running lane,
0:13:55 > 0:13:58and they want us to go and offer some form of protection
0:13:58 > 0:14:00while they recover it.
0:14:01 > 0:14:05It means their planned meal break will just have to wait.
0:14:05 > 0:14:08We just went to order a nice takeaway, and then, right on cue,
0:14:08 > 0:14:11- a job comes in, but... - Every time, isn't it?
0:14:11 > 0:14:14It does. It happens every time. It's unbelievable.
0:14:14 > 0:14:16You can have a shift where you do nothing...
0:14:16 > 0:14:18As soon as you go and order hot food,
0:14:18 > 0:14:20you can guarantee a job will come in.
0:14:20 > 0:14:21But if ever you've got a shift
0:14:21 > 0:14:23and you get a bit bored if there's nothing to do,
0:14:23 > 0:14:26that's all you've got to do to get some work going - order some food.
0:14:32 > 0:14:34When Peter and Scott arrive at the scene,
0:14:34 > 0:14:38it's clear the van is parked in a dangerous position...
0:14:39 > 0:14:40Hotel Alpha Charlie Lima.
0:14:40 > 0:14:43..just metres from the main carriageway.
0:14:43 > 0:14:47It's a van with a small trailer on the back.
0:14:47 > 0:14:50We're just approaching that now, so we'll advise shortly, over.
0:14:51 > 0:14:52Right.
0:14:54 > 0:14:56What's the matter with it?
0:15:04 > 0:15:07This section of the A1 is so busy
0:15:07 > 0:15:09that Highways England offer free recovery
0:15:09 > 0:15:14so vehicles can be moved off the carriageway as quickly as possible.
0:15:14 > 0:15:18I was just driving along the A1, and the gearbox went.
0:15:18 > 0:15:21Just lost all drive, so I just pulled in to the side of the road.
0:15:24 > 0:15:27But a breakdown truck needs to get here quickly.
0:15:27 > 0:15:29See if we do it under the free recovery,
0:15:29 > 0:15:33if they've got a wagon just about here, we'll let them move it.
0:15:33 > 0:15:35Peter has an idea to speed things up.
0:15:35 > 0:15:39I'm just wondering - if we can get a hitch on the front,
0:15:39 > 0:15:41if you stay behind to protect us,
0:15:41 > 0:15:43we could drag it off at the next junction.
0:15:44 > 0:15:46Has the gearbox locked up, or is it freewheeling?
0:15:46 > 0:15:49- No, it's free, it's... - Well, rather than getting recovered,
0:15:49 > 0:15:52because when recovery comes, we'd basically have to close
0:15:52 > 0:15:54the whole lane off to get you recovered...
0:15:54 > 0:15:57- Right.- ..maybe we could just drag you off at the next junction,
0:15:57 > 0:16:00and position you somewhere there, which would be better for recovery.
0:16:00 > 0:16:04- Yeah, I'll follow behind so there's no worry for when you're going into traffic.- Yeah, if you sit behind us.
0:16:04 > 0:16:07- Yeah, yeah. Do you want to do that? - Yeah, that's fine.- Excellent.
0:16:07 > 0:16:11With other vehicles passing the broken-down truck at 70mph,
0:16:11 > 0:16:13a collision could be fatal.
0:16:13 > 0:16:17We'll get off at the Washington Services quicker than getting on the radio, so...
0:16:17 > 0:16:21- So where are we going to go to, mate, cos I don't know where... - Off at the next junction.
0:16:21 > 0:16:23The recovery's due in half an hour,
0:16:23 > 0:16:27so we're just going to tow it off network.
0:16:27 > 0:16:30The police are going to sit behind us and escort us, some protection,
0:16:30 > 0:16:32and we'll just tow it off ourselves.
0:16:32 > 0:16:35Its gearbox has failed.
0:16:35 > 0:16:36It is still freewheeling, though,
0:16:36 > 0:16:40which enables us to be able to clear it from the carriageway,
0:16:40 > 0:16:42and then they can just await their own recovery.
0:16:45 > 0:16:47Right, we'll get it hitched up.
0:16:47 > 0:16:52Every year, nearly 250 people are killed or injured on the hard shoulder,
0:16:52 > 0:16:57so it's important Peter and Scott move the vehicle as soon as possible.
0:16:57 > 0:16:58Right, take the bite up, Scott.
0:17:01 > 0:17:04Starting to take it off the floor. Go on.
0:17:06 > 0:17:07Whoa.
0:17:07 > 0:17:09Are you all right?
0:17:11 > 0:17:13With a police escort behind...
0:17:13 > 0:17:17- Yeah.- ..Scott carefully pulls the van to an emergency recovery area
0:17:17 > 0:17:20away from the main carriageway.
0:17:21 > 0:17:26Keep it as far back as you can, for his recovery to get in.
0:17:26 > 0:17:27What is it? A bit soft?
0:17:28 > 0:17:30- RADIO:- Charlie 81 following.
0:17:35 > 0:17:384-1, we've carriageway-cleared this vehicle into an ERA.
0:17:41 > 0:17:44The area you can see, where the little bollards are pulled in,
0:17:44 > 0:17:46it's known as an emergency recovery area,
0:17:46 > 0:17:49where the ground's reinforced on the verge,
0:17:49 > 0:17:52so that's going to be safe to leave here,
0:17:52 > 0:17:54and they can get their onward recovery from here.
0:17:57 > 0:18:00- Good job, that.- Yeah.
0:18:00 > 0:18:02Less than 20 minutes after arriving at the scene,
0:18:02 > 0:18:05Peter and Scott are back on the road.
0:18:05 > 0:18:09Anything which is in a running lane, there is always that element of risk.
0:18:09 > 0:18:13So by moving that vehicle as we did into that emergency lay-by,
0:18:13 > 0:18:16you know, you've eliminated that risk.
0:18:16 > 0:18:19And the lads have built up quite an appetite.
0:18:19 > 0:18:20If someone needs us, then we'll go...
0:18:20 > 0:18:25I know, but their needs can't be as great as the needs of us getting fed.
0:18:25 > 0:18:27Have you seen the time, man? It's after seven o'clock.
0:18:27 > 0:18:30We did ask them to keep it hot for us, so hopefully they have.
0:18:36 > 0:18:37In a recent survey,
0:18:37 > 0:18:41nearly half of all drivers admitted to flouting traffic laws...
0:18:43 > 0:18:46..either through inattention or simply because they think they can
0:18:46 > 0:18:49get away with it. So it's not surprising that,
0:18:49 > 0:18:52for the 15 forces that police the A1,
0:18:52 > 0:18:55there is no such thing as a quiet shift.
0:18:56 > 0:19:00Near Morpeth in Northumberland, PC Darren Lant is on patrol,
0:19:00 > 0:19:04when a passing Citroen Saxo catches his attention.
0:19:05 > 0:19:08Vehicle check, please. A1 southbound at Hebron.
0:19:11 > 0:19:16- RADIO:- It's come back as a red Citroen Saxo. No reports present.
0:19:16 > 0:19:21While Darren is running some checks, the car disappears from view.
0:19:21 > 0:19:23Interesting. It looks like it's took off.
0:19:23 > 0:19:25Yeah, it's gone.
0:19:25 > 0:19:30Keen to catch up, Darren puts on his lights to move through the traffic.
0:19:30 > 0:19:33But he's going to have to put his foot down.
0:19:33 > 0:19:36Despite a 40mph speed limit because of roadworks,
0:19:36 > 0:19:39this driver isn't slowing down.
0:19:39 > 0:19:40At 70mph on a 40...
0:19:41 > 0:19:45He's doing nearly 70mph in a 40mph limit.
0:19:45 > 0:19:48That's through the roadworks, where you've got guys trying to do repairs
0:19:48 > 0:19:50and maintenance on the road.
0:19:52 > 0:19:55Clearly down to 40, and he's just blew them.
0:19:55 > 0:19:59He's gone straight through them, and he's stayed at 70mph through the 40.
0:20:00 > 0:20:03It's really dangerous, and it's reduced speed for a safety reason.
0:20:04 > 0:20:07You know, still, working on the side of the road at 40mph is still frightening.
0:20:07 > 0:20:11But when you've got vehicles that are blatantly ignoring the speed limit,
0:20:11 > 0:20:14they're just taking off down at 70mph, it's horrendous.
0:20:14 > 0:20:18And the driver seems oblivious to Darren behind.
0:20:18 > 0:20:20How has he not seen the patrol car behind him?
0:20:20 > 0:20:22Every time he moves out into a lane,
0:20:22 > 0:20:25you would think he would check his mirror.
0:20:25 > 0:20:28But he's clearly not, cos he would see us.
0:20:28 > 0:20:30This guy was - he was going to move out,
0:20:30 > 0:20:33but he's looked in his mirror and decided not to.
0:20:33 > 0:20:36Time for Darren to pull the motorist over.
0:20:37 > 0:20:40We'll get them stopped and see what they've got to say.
0:20:42 > 0:20:45- Hello, how are you doing?- All right. - Do you have your driving documents,
0:20:45 > 0:20:46licence, insurance, that sort of stuff?
0:20:46 > 0:20:48- Not on us, mate.- No bother.
0:20:48 > 0:20:51Grab your keys. Come and have a chat with me and I'll explain to you why I've stopped you.
0:20:53 > 0:20:56Take a seat in the back, on that side.
0:20:58 > 0:21:02- The reason why I've stopped you is cos you're speeding. - I'm speeding?- Aye, yeah.
0:21:02 > 0:21:04I thought it was a 70 on a dual carriageway.
0:21:04 > 0:21:05It is, yeah, ordinarily.
0:21:05 > 0:21:08But what about all them cones and all them speed-restriction signs
0:21:08 > 0:21:10that you saw when you passed the speed camera,
0:21:10 > 0:21:14when it takes you down from the national speed limit of 60
0:21:14 > 0:21:17on the single carriageway to 50 to 40?
0:21:17 > 0:21:18All right.
0:21:18 > 0:21:22And you just continued all the way through he 40s at about 70mph.
0:21:22 > 0:21:23Did I? Right.
0:21:23 > 0:21:27- I've followed you all the way through, even when you were changing lanes.- Aye.- Which tends to suggest
0:21:27 > 0:21:31- you weren't using your mirror, either, when you were changing lanes.- I did, I did use my mirror.
0:21:31 > 0:21:34- I was. I even turned my head... - Right?- ..to check that nowt was coming.
0:21:34 > 0:21:36So how did you not see the big, massive patrol car behind you?
0:21:36 > 0:21:39- Well, I did see you.- And you still drove at 70mph in a 40?
0:21:39 > 0:21:41I still... I seen you.
0:21:41 > 0:21:45OK. I've got to caution you. You don't have to say anything thing, but it may harm your defence if you
0:21:45 > 0:21:49don't mention when questioned something which you later rely on in court, and anything you do say
0:21:49 > 0:21:51- may be given in evidence. All right? - OK.- You're not under arrest.
0:21:51 > 0:21:54Because she was 30mph over the speed limit,
0:21:54 > 0:21:57Darren can't issue a ticket -
0:21:57 > 0:21:59the woman will have to go to court.
0:21:59 > 0:22:04- So I'm just going to do a couple of checks. Have you got a full licence? - Yeah.- You have, have you?
0:22:04 > 0:22:08And things are about to get worse for this speeding driver.
0:22:08 > 0:22:11- When I said, "Have you got a full licence," and you said, "Aye?"- Aye.
0:22:11 > 0:22:13- You're lying, aren't you?- No. - You've got a revoked licence.
0:22:13 > 0:22:16- I haven't got a revoked licence. - You have, man.- How have I got it revoked?
0:22:16 > 0:22:19- I'll tell you...- Cos the DVLA have said your licence is revoked.
0:22:19 > 0:22:21Aye, on medical reasons, right,
0:22:21 > 0:22:23and they've sent us a letter saying to send it back,
0:22:23 > 0:22:25which is exactly what I did,
0:22:25 > 0:22:28so technically I've got a licence when that's gone back to get, like,
0:22:28 > 0:22:31- to pay the fee to get it un-thingied.- Right. OK.- So I've got a licence.
0:22:31 > 0:22:35So have you got proof now, here, that the DVLA have said you can drive?
0:22:35 > 0:22:36Not on us.
0:22:38 > 0:22:40Well, the DVLA still say that you've got a revoked licence,
0:22:40 > 0:22:43- and I've got to go off what the computer says.- Right. Fair play.
0:22:43 > 0:22:46So your car is going to be seized from you today, under section 165,
0:22:46 > 0:22:49until such time as you can prove that you do have a licence...
0:22:49 > 0:22:51- Yeah.- ..and that you've got insurance for the vehicle.
0:22:51 > 0:22:53The woman's car will be towed away.
0:22:55 > 0:22:57Is there anyone that can come give us a hand
0:22:57 > 0:23:00with this 165 on the A1?
0:23:02 > 0:23:05So Darren arranges for another patrol car to collect the driver
0:23:05 > 0:23:09and her passenger to get them to their destination.
0:23:09 > 0:23:12The driver will have seven days to prove her licence was valid to get
0:23:12 > 0:23:17her car back, and she still faces court for the speeding offence.
0:23:17 > 0:23:19She's got a blatant disregard for any road users anyway, hasn't she?
0:23:19 > 0:23:22She's doing 70mph in a 40, through roadworks,
0:23:22 > 0:23:24where she's not paying any attention.
0:23:24 > 0:23:27She said she's looking in her mirror, and moving in and out,
0:23:27 > 0:23:28but the patrol car's following her.
0:23:28 > 0:23:30I'm behind her all the way.
0:23:30 > 0:23:32She's made no attempt to alter her driving.
0:23:32 > 0:23:35She's driving on a revoked licence, so a risk to you, to me,
0:23:35 > 0:23:37to every other road user.
0:23:42 > 0:23:45More than ten miles south, Darren's colleague is still dealing with
0:23:45 > 0:23:49a major emergency on a busy A1 junction near Newcastle.
0:23:52 > 0:23:55PC Alan Keenleyside is helping paramedics to remove
0:23:55 > 0:23:58an injured motorist from her crashed car.
0:24:00 > 0:24:02- OK.- Ready, steady...slide.
0:24:03 > 0:24:06The driver may have a serious head injury,
0:24:06 > 0:24:10and any sudden movement could have devastating consequences.
0:24:10 > 0:24:13A little bit more. Ready, steady, slide.
0:24:15 > 0:24:17Inch by inch...
0:24:17 > 0:24:19- Keep going.- One, two, three.
0:24:20 > 0:24:24..the injured driver is rescued from the wreckage.
0:24:24 > 0:24:26Shall I sit on the back of the car?
0:24:28 > 0:24:30OK. Thank you for your help with this.
0:24:30 > 0:24:32She's rushed to the ambulance,
0:24:32 > 0:24:35where she can receive urgent medical attention.
0:24:35 > 0:24:36Traffic's stopped.
0:24:44 > 0:24:45For Alan and the police team,
0:24:45 > 0:24:49it's time to investigate the cause of the collision.
0:24:49 > 0:24:52We think vehicle one has maybe come out from here with a view to going
0:24:52 > 0:24:57straight over, so it's been a typical lane to roundabout type collision.
0:24:57 > 0:25:00- Yeah.- However, this vehicle's come to rest post-impact
0:25:00 > 0:25:03up against the Armco barrier with the driver's door.
0:25:04 > 0:25:07With the scene here, what we'll do is we'll mark and photograph the
0:25:07 > 0:25:10post-impact position of the vehicles, get them recovered,
0:25:10 > 0:25:13and then conduct our investigation from there.
0:25:13 > 0:25:16Alan's seen something which could provide crucial evidence.
0:25:16 > 0:25:19I've just pointed out, actually, up there we've got a camera.
0:25:19 > 0:25:23It's one of the Highways England cameras, which cover the A19.
0:25:23 > 0:25:27So that could be really, really key in our, erm, in our investigation.
0:25:27 > 0:25:32The CCTV camera captured how the car careered into the barrier,
0:25:32 > 0:25:33just moments after the crash.
0:25:35 > 0:25:38As the investigation continues...
0:25:38 > 0:25:40OK, we've got an exit into lane two of the A19.
0:25:40 > 0:25:44..there is still only one lane open on the roundabout.
0:25:44 > 0:25:49It means the rush-hour traffic is backing up in all directions.
0:25:49 > 0:25:52This is a junction of the A1 and the A19, two major routes,
0:25:52 > 0:25:56and the effect that it has on the A1, it will slow vehicles coming,
0:25:56 > 0:25:58like, exiting the A1.
0:25:58 > 0:26:02It'll form tailbacks along those exit slip roads.
0:26:02 > 0:26:04Clearly there's a lot of emergency services here.
0:26:04 > 0:26:08Unfortunately we can't really help that. It's the nature of what we're dealing with.
0:26:08 > 0:26:10And as the darkness falls...
0:26:10 > 0:26:14Paramedics have been treating the lady in the ambulance for some time now,
0:26:14 > 0:26:17which tends to suggest they have a significant amount of work to do
0:26:17 > 0:26:19to stabilise her.
0:26:19 > 0:26:23As the ambulance takes the injured driver to hospital,
0:26:23 > 0:26:27there is no doubt the trainee care assistant has played a crucial part
0:26:27 > 0:26:29in rescuing her safely.
0:26:29 > 0:26:33Well, I just was driving past, and I seen loads of people out of the car, so I thought they were all right
0:26:33 > 0:26:36until then I seen the lady in the driver's seat of this car.
0:26:36 > 0:26:39She looked unconscious, so I thought I'd pull over and get out and help.
0:26:39 > 0:26:43I was literally on my way to my parents' log cabin for the weekend,
0:26:43 > 0:26:45with a hot tub. So that's where I'm heading now.
0:26:45 > 0:26:48- And a bottle of fizz?- Yeah.
0:26:48 > 0:26:50Definitely a bottle of fizz.
0:26:53 > 0:26:56Nearly two hours after the initial incident,
0:26:56 > 0:26:59the recovery vehicle can finally take away the wreckage...
0:27:03 > 0:27:07..and Alan can start fully reopening the road to traffic.
0:27:12 > 0:27:13All right.
0:27:14 > 0:27:18I'm a little bit concerned about this lady, if the truth be known.
0:27:18 > 0:27:22It's being treated as life-threatening at this moment in time,
0:27:22 > 0:27:25hence the roads being closed for a couple of hours to facilitating
0:27:25 > 0:27:28her care, which takes precedence over everything.
0:27:29 > 0:27:32I know it's horrible, because people are hurting and people are in pain,
0:27:32 > 0:27:35but we can't get emotionally attached to what those people are
0:27:35 > 0:27:37going through, so, yeah,
0:27:37 > 0:27:41it's a bit of a sobering moment, knowing that somebody's potentially
0:27:41 > 0:27:43very, very seriously injured indeed.
0:27:51 > 0:27:54The driver injured in the roundabout crash was treated in hospital
0:27:54 > 0:27:57for a week but has since made a good recovery.
0:27:59 > 0:28:04The motorist stopped near roadworks was given a six-month driving ban,
0:28:04 > 0:28:08six points and fines totalling £415
0:28:08 > 0:28:12after being found guilty of speeding and driving without a licence.