0:00:01 > 0:00:03The A1, Britain's longest road -
0:00:04 > 0:00:08stretching almost 400 miles from the city of London
0:00:08 > 0:00:11to the heart of the Scottish capital.
0:00:13 > 0:00:17Connecting two nations and passing through 18 counties, it's an
0:00:17 > 0:00:22unrivalled highway used by hundreds of thousands of vehicles every 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 > 0:00:34I thought I'm going to lose my life.
0:00:34 > 0:00:36Cars are coming close.
0:00:36 > 0:00:39It is the 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, it's unrecognisable.
0:00:44 > 0:00:46This is actually the bodywork of the car.
0:00:48 > 0:00:4924 hours a day...
0:00:49 > 0:00:51It's not a safe place here.
0:00:51 > 0:00:54..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 we've got the road closed or...
0:01:02 > 0:01:03We don't know what's happened.
0:01:03 > 0:01:04..and traffic officers.
0:01:06 > 0:01:07Better keep going.
0:01:08 > 0:01:11Keeping Britain's most iconic road...
0:01:11 > 0:01:12Get out.
0:01:12 > 0:01:13..on the move.
0:01:14 > 0:01:18Substantially damaged flatbed truck in lane two.
0:01:18 > 0:01:21The A1, the monster that it is, will start to return to normal.
0:01:26 > 0:01:27Coming up...
0:01:27 > 0:01:29A race to get a stranded fuel tanker...
0:01:29 > 0:01:30HORN BLAST
0:01:30 > 0:01:32..away from rush-hour traffic.
0:01:32 > 0:01:35We've got 41,000 litres of diesel and petrol.
0:01:36 > 0:01:39There's a danger if someone obviously impacted with him.
0:01:40 > 0:01:42Police catch a vehicle travelling nearly 30mph
0:01:42 > 0:01:44over the speed limit.
0:01:44 > 0:01:4668.
0:01:46 > 0:01:49And an illegal motorist is caught red-handed.
0:01:49 > 0:01:51It's showing you haven't got a driving licence.
0:01:51 > 0:01:52Did I have one?
0:01:53 > 0:01:55Erm, let's see.
0:02:00 > 0:02:02As one of Britain's biggest motorways,
0:02:02 > 0:02:06the A1 carries hundreds of thousands of vehicles every day.
0:02:07 > 0:02:10And one of the busiest times of the week for crashes
0:02:10 > 0:02:12is the evening rush hour on a Friday.
0:02:14 > 0:02:16In places like Ferrybridge in West Yorkshire,
0:02:16 > 0:02:18where three lanes drop into two,
0:02:18 > 0:02:21problems can occur as commuters head home for the weekend.
0:02:24 > 0:02:27Yeah, all received. We're making our way as best we can through traffic.
0:02:28 > 0:02:32It's 7:40pm and traffic officers Paul Day and Matt Gibson
0:02:32 > 0:02:34are hurrying to the scene of a crash.
0:02:35 > 0:02:37So, we've got reports of a two-vehicle RTC,
0:02:37 > 0:02:39one vehicle's stuck in the outside lane with a small child in it.
0:02:40 > 0:02:42About eight years old, I think.
0:02:42 > 0:02:44It's more that there's a young child in it and they've stayed
0:02:44 > 0:02:46in the car that's slightly worrying.
0:02:47 > 0:02:49Because who would want to stay in a live running lane
0:02:49 > 0:02:50if they didn't have to be?
0:02:53 > 0:02:55There's a real risk of casualties,
0:02:55 > 0:02:59so it's vital Paul and Matt get there quickly.
0:02:59 > 0:03:01But traffic's blocking their way.
0:03:01 > 0:03:04The traffic's stationary on approach.
0:03:04 > 0:03:06We're going to use the hard shoulder.
0:03:06 > 0:03:09We're on the hard shoulder, running up to the incident now.
0:03:09 > 0:03:10Look for the policeman.
0:03:12 > 0:03:13- Nothing there.- Not there?
0:03:13 > 0:03:15We need to clear some debris, anyway.
0:03:18 > 0:03:21The vehicle's badly damaged, but, thankfully,
0:03:21 > 0:03:24the couple and their eight-year-old daughter are safe.
0:03:24 > 0:03:25They've had a lucky escape.
0:03:29 > 0:03:32We were travelling in the fast lane, heading northbound.
0:03:32 > 0:03:37A car in the inside lane came into the car into the middle lane,
0:03:37 > 0:03:39which then swerved into me.
0:03:39 > 0:03:42The car that's caused it has driven off, erm,
0:03:42 > 0:03:45and the guy in the middle lane has obviously held his hands up
0:03:45 > 0:03:47to say that he's hit me.
0:03:47 > 0:03:51Their smashed-up vehicle is still blocking the outside lane.
0:03:51 > 0:03:54With the tailback up to five miles long and growing,
0:03:54 > 0:03:56shifting the pick-up is now their top priority.
0:03:58 > 0:04:02If you can hand-stop traffic, then we can do it without traffic
0:04:02 > 0:04:05running past us, clear this vehicle, over.
0:04:05 > 0:04:08Moving stricken vehicles can be tricky,
0:04:08 > 0:04:10and they need to close the road.
0:04:10 > 0:04:13There's quite a lot of damage to it, so what we've done is stop traffic.
0:04:13 > 0:04:16I'm just looking for a suitable place to try and get hold of it,
0:04:16 > 0:04:17to drag it.
0:04:20 > 0:04:21They are designed to smash up, yeah.
0:04:21 > 0:04:25You just have to get the best place you can get.
0:04:25 > 0:04:27Hook it up, and...
0:04:27 > 0:04:28HE GRUNTS
0:04:28 > 0:04:29..drag it off.
0:04:31 > 0:04:34But the hundreds of cars in the jam are still stuck.
0:04:34 > 0:04:38The road can't be reopened until the remaining debris is gone, too.
0:04:39 > 0:04:40Grab a brush.
0:04:47 > 0:04:49Are you all right?
0:04:49 > 0:04:51- Are you happy? - Yeah, I'm happy, yeah.
0:04:51 > 0:04:53Right, he's happy with it, Matt.
0:04:54 > 0:04:57So, what we did there, we just made sure we were all clear
0:04:57 > 0:05:00on the carriageway before we let cars go...
0:05:01 > 0:05:02..which we've done now.
0:05:04 > 0:05:06Hotel Alpha Charlie Lima 13.
0:05:07 > 0:05:09The block is free.
0:05:09 > 0:05:11Normal talk-through can resume. Thank you to everybody else.
0:05:13 > 0:05:14Seven minutes after arriving,
0:05:14 > 0:05:18Paul and Matt have made sure commuters are moving again.
0:05:18 > 0:05:20But for driver Russell and his family,
0:05:20 > 0:05:23who have travelled up the A1 from their home in Ipswich,
0:05:23 > 0:05:26a bad day looks like it's getting a whole lot worse.
0:05:30 > 0:05:32I don't know how we're going to get home.
0:05:32 > 0:05:35The insurance company has said that they'll only recover us ten miles
0:05:35 > 0:05:38and we're obviously 200 miles away from home.
0:05:38 > 0:05:39It's not what we were hoping for.
0:05:41 > 0:05:43But, thanks to the police and traffic officers,
0:05:43 > 0:05:46the family are safe and are being ferried to a warm hotel.
0:05:49 > 0:05:52And with their pick-up finally recovered,
0:05:52 > 0:05:54it's a job well done for Paul and Matt.
0:05:55 > 0:05:58Job's a good 'un. Everybody's gone home safe.
0:05:58 > 0:06:01Little bit of damage, but that can be, er...
0:06:01 > 0:06:02..written off.
0:06:05 > 0:06:09But keeping Britain's longest road moving is a constant battle
0:06:09 > 0:06:13and it's not just accidents which bring the A1 grinding to a halt.
0:06:17 > 0:06:20In any one week, mile after mile of the carriageway is subject
0:06:20 > 0:06:24to temporary speed limits because of roadworks.
0:06:26 > 0:06:29We all get frustrated by being caught up in them,
0:06:29 > 0:06:34but these A1 drivers simply think that the rules don't apply to them,
0:06:34 > 0:06:37and behaviour like this has dangerous consequences.
0:06:39 > 0:06:43Especially for the people on the other side of the cones.
0:06:45 > 0:06:50Since 2005, 16 men and women have lost their lives working on
0:06:50 > 0:06:55England's major roads and over 500 have been seriously injured.
0:06:56 > 0:06:59On the A1 near Morpeth in Northumberland,
0:06:59 > 0:07:03police are cracking down on the problem.
0:07:03 > 0:07:08Today, PC Darren Lant is monitoring vehicles as they pass through roadworks.
0:07:09 > 0:07:11I've just parked up on the on-slip here to the A1.
0:07:11 > 0:07:13There's a lot of roadworks going on and we're getting a lot
0:07:13 > 0:07:17of complaints from the staff,
0:07:17 > 0:07:20the roadwork staff that are trying to improve the area,
0:07:20 > 0:07:23of vehicles not sticking to the temporary speed limit,
0:07:23 > 0:07:24and causing a danger to those roadwork lads.
0:07:25 > 0:07:29First, Darren wants to gauge how bad the problem is.
0:07:29 > 0:07:31All I do is just point and shoot.
0:07:31 > 0:07:33And it's not long before he gets some disturbing readings
0:07:33 > 0:07:35in this 40mph zone.
0:07:36 > 0:07:38Here we go. There's a couple coming down now.
0:07:38 > 0:07:39Outside lane, white one.
0:07:42 > 0:07:43BEEP
0:07:44 > 0:07:4661.
0:07:48 > 0:07:49BMW.
0:07:51 > 0:07:52BEEP
0:07:52 > 0:07:5355.
0:07:53 > 0:07:5630 seconds of checking, there's been about five vehicles who have gone
0:07:56 > 0:07:59through between 55 and 61mph.
0:07:59 > 0:08:03So, now that I know there is a problem, I'll start looking to
0:08:03 > 0:08:05enforce it and we'll have a word with some of the drivers.
0:08:18 > 0:08:19The white Citroen.
0:08:25 > 0:08:26BEEP
0:08:26 > 0:08:2868.
0:08:28 > 0:08:31That's a massive 28mph over the limit.
0:08:33 > 0:08:35Darren must be careful.
0:08:35 > 0:08:39He is keen to stop the driver, but doesn't want to risk a chase
0:08:39 > 0:08:41that could endanger other motorists.
0:08:41 > 0:08:4468mph in a 40mph limit.
0:08:44 > 0:08:48Do a check on it, see where it's from, see if there's anything on it.
0:08:48 > 0:08:50Vehicle check, please. White Citroen.
0:08:54 > 0:08:55Yes, yes, thank you.
0:08:55 > 0:08:59Lives local, probably travels the road quite a lot.
0:08:59 > 0:09:02With the checks done, Darren starts to pull the driver over.
0:09:05 > 0:09:07I always give them a pre-warning that I'm going to stop them
0:09:07 > 0:09:09and give them a little bit of a flash of the blue light,
0:09:09 > 0:09:11let them know that's what's coming.
0:09:13 > 0:09:16They can make a nice, safe stop in the lay-by here, which is good.
0:09:24 > 0:09:27Hello, sir. How are you? Can I have a chat with you in the car,
0:09:27 > 0:09:28about two seconds, please?
0:09:32 > 0:09:34I'm going to caution you. You don't have to say anything,
0:09:34 > 0:09:37but it may harm your defence if you do not answer, when questioned,
0:09:37 > 0:09:40something you may rely on later in court and anything you do say may be given in evidence.
0:09:40 > 0:09:43You're not under arrest, that's just something that I've got to say to you. OK?
0:09:43 > 0:09:44It was actually 68mph.
0:09:44 > 0:09:48Is there any reason as to why you're doing 68mph in a 40 limit?
0:09:53 > 0:09:55OK. The way I proposed to deal with it is by issuing you
0:09:55 > 0:09:57with an endorsable fixed-penalty notice.
0:09:57 > 0:10:00It does carry three points on your licence.
0:10:00 > 0:10:02Although, when they catch drivers speeding,
0:10:02 > 0:10:07police have some discretion in the way they deal with each case,
0:10:07 > 0:10:10on this occasion, the motorist was going so fast,
0:10:10 > 0:10:12Darren immediately gives him a ticket.
0:10:12 > 0:10:15That gentleman wasn't offered a place on a speed awareness course
0:10:15 > 0:10:19because he was travelling 28mph over the posted speed limit.
0:10:19 > 0:10:22It's 40mph. They know that, and doing 68 in a 40,
0:10:22 > 0:10:24it's just unacceptable.
0:10:26 > 0:10:27What we've got here on the A1,
0:10:27 > 0:10:30we've got a lot of roadworks going on, so there's a lot of hazards,
0:10:30 > 0:10:32a lot of people on the road, so it's really unsafe for them to be
0:10:32 > 0:10:35on the road when you've got vehicles travelling at high speed.
0:10:36 > 0:10:39What we're doing is, we're just making sure people are sticking
0:10:39 > 0:10:41to the speed limits, but it's not all about coming out and getting
0:10:41 > 0:10:43as many speeding tickets as we can.
0:10:43 > 0:10:45You know, we're not... That's not the be-all and end-all
0:10:45 > 0:10:47of being a traffic cop.
0:10:50 > 0:10:53Speeding motorists will be one of Darren's priorities for the rest
0:10:53 > 0:10:58of his shift, and he's sure this one won't be his last.
0:11:05 > 0:11:07Just over 20 miles away,
0:11:07 > 0:11:10one of the road-laying teams he's trying to protect are racing
0:11:10 > 0:11:12to finish their latest job.
0:11:13 > 0:11:16And they've got a revolutionary machine to help them,
0:11:16 > 0:11:19with Darren Housman manning the controls.
0:11:21 > 0:11:26When I saw the size of it, it was like, "Oh, God!" at first, but,
0:11:26 > 0:11:30yeah, really excited and, you know, ready to roll with it and get going.
0:11:31 > 0:11:35With hundreds of thousands of vehicles pounding the road every day,
0:11:35 > 0:11:40this huge, 52-tonne resurfacing machine is part of a small army
0:11:40 > 0:11:45which ensures the A1's 400 miles of tarmac is kept safe for drivers.
0:11:45 > 0:11:49What makes this revolutionary machine so special
0:11:49 > 0:11:52is that the road it's ripping up at the front is immediately being
0:11:52 > 0:11:54recycled and relayed at the back.
0:11:56 > 0:11:57When there's a lot of people about,
0:11:57 > 0:12:03you've sort of got a lot to think about and a lot to, sort of, watch.
0:12:03 > 0:12:06You've got the elevator, the boys at the back of it,
0:12:06 > 0:12:08and those at the front of the machine.
0:12:08 > 0:12:11It can be a bit nervous at times, but once you get on,
0:12:11 > 0:12:12you get over it.
0:12:13 > 0:12:17Today, Darren and his team are tackling a 1.25-mile section,
0:12:17 > 0:12:20and expect to complete the job three times faster
0:12:20 > 0:12:22than by using traditional methods.
0:12:23 > 0:12:26And overseeing the operation is Steve Bishop.
0:12:28 > 0:12:30This system has a number of benefits.
0:12:30 > 0:12:33The amount of waste that is going to landfill is down 70%.
0:12:33 > 0:12:37The amount of imported new stone that we need, new blacktop,
0:12:37 > 0:12:40is down 75%, so massive savings there.
0:12:40 > 0:12:42And then, also, as far as our workforce is concerned,
0:12:42 > 0:12:4549% fewer man-hours to do the job,
0:12:45 > 0:12:48so we've got less exposure for our workforce to what is, admittedly,
0:12:48 > 0:12:50a not particularly nice place to have to work -
0:12:50 > 0:12:53the side of a fast dual carriageway.
0:12:55 > 0:12:58Recycling the original road stones and re-laying them
0:12:58 > 0:13:03with added bitumen in a much cooler system in one go means they can lay
0:13:03 > 0:13:071,000 tonnes of road a day instead of just 350.
0:13:07 > 0:13:11This means they can relay both lanes anyone in a 1.25-mile section
0:13:11 > 0:13:14of road in just two and a half weeks.
0:13:14 > 0:13:17We're not in the business of disrupting drivers to make
0:13:17 > 0:13:20their lives rotten, but we do have a legal duty to maintain the road,
0:13:20 > 0:13:22and make sure it's safe for people.
0:13:22 > 0:13:25So, when we need to go in, we go in, but what we'd like to do is go in,
0:13:25 > 0:13:27hit it hard, hit it quick and get out of the way,
0:13:27 > 0:13:29so people can get back to their business.
0:13:29 > 0:13:32With the road taking a pounding 24/7,
0:13:32 > 0:13:35it's no wonder that around 50 miles of the A1
0:13:35 > 0:13:37need to be replaced every year
0:13:37 > 0:13:41and all that means Darren and his monster machine are going to be
0:13:41 > 0:13:43kept busy for a good while yet.
0:13:45 > 0:13:47If you don't mind, I'm going to have to crack on,
0:13:47 > 0:13:51cos we've got another K to do today, so we want to be up and at it.
0:13:54 > 0:13:56More than 300 miles away,
0:13:56 > 0:13:58at the southern end of the A1 in Hertfordshire,
0:13:58 > 0:14:01the evening rush hour is often the busiest time for the teams
0:14:01 > 0:14:03who keep it safe.
0:14:11 > 0:14:14Traffic officers Rob Taylor and Steve Francis are in the middle
0:14:14 > 0:14:18of their shift and they've just spotted a vehicle on a roundabout
0:14:18 > 0:14:19off the main carriageway.
0:14:19 > 0:14:21Hotel Alpha Sierra Lima 52.
0:14:24 > 0:14:27A 40-foot articulated tanker has stopped
0:14:27 > 0:14:31and is causing a serious obstruction in fast-moving traffic.
0:14:32 > 0:14:34Yeah, we've just come up against a petrol tanker,
0:14:34 > 0:14:38junction nine on the roundabout over the A1(M).
0:14:38 > 0:14:41We're just going to go round and see what the situation is.
0:14:47 > 0:14:48Clutch or brake?
0:14:48 > 0:14:49Sorry, what?
0:14:49 > 0:14:51Yeah, I'm getting a smell. Is it clutch or brake?
0:14:51 > 0:14:54- No, it's brakes on the back. - Brakes. They're locked on, are they?
0:14:54 > 0:14:58- Yeah, got an air leak, just caused the brakes to lock on.- OK.
0:14:58 > 0:15:00We're coming round the roundabout and see some smoke coming off
0:15:00 > 0:15:03the back axle, so we thought it wise to pull over.
0:15:03 > 0:15:05On inspection, we've got an air leak
0:15:05 > 0:15:08and it's caused the brakes to lock on.
0:15:09 > 0:15:12But the biggest problem is the contents of the tanker.
0:15:12 > 0:15:15On this load, we've got 41,000 litres of split load
0:15:15 > 0:15:16between diesel and petrol.
0:15:17 > 0:15:21There's a real danger that the overheated brakes could catch fire.
0:15:21 > 0:15:25And with the tanker full of fuel and traffic passing close by,
0:15:25 > 0:15:27Rob fears the worst.
0:15:27 > 0:15:31If the brakes locked on, they can be known to be getting very, very hot.
0:15:31 > 0:15:34You don't want hot brakes with a petrol tanker.
0:15:34 > 0:15:36We've got to be super-cautious with it.
0:15:36 > 0:15:38It means that Rob must get a recovery vehicle out
0:15:38 > 0:15:40as quickly as possible.
0:15:40 > 0:15:41I'll need to know who's coming out,
0:15:41 > 0:15:45- find out an ETA, so we know how long it's going to be there.- Yeah.
0:15:45 > 0:15:47But it's not looking good.
0:15:47 > 0:15:50Recovery's said to be 60-90 minutes.
0:15:50 > 0:15:52I've tried to urge them to try and see if we can get it quicker.
0:15:57 > 0:16:00It's not good. Usually, when this happens, it always happens
0:16:00 > 0:16:01in the wrong location.
0:16:01 > 0:16:05And there's already been a near miss before Rob and Steve arrived.
0:16:05 > 0:16:08Apparently, they've put their two hazard triangles out,
0:16:08 > 0:16:11one's already been hit by somebody, amazingly, so...
0:16:13 > 0:16:14You couldn't make it up.
0:16:16 > 0:16:18To make the area safe,
0:16:18 > 0:16:21Steve must put a cordon around the truck as quickly as possible,
0:16:21 > 0:16:23which will take out an entire lane.
0:16:26 > 0:16:28But the danger's not over yet.
0:16:28 > 0:16:31The main problem is now that everyone's going home at the moment,
0:16:31 > 0:16:34and these guys will enter the slip at speed.
0:16:35 > 0:16:39So, of course, only when they come halfway round the roundabout,
0:16:39 > 0:16:42they'll realise that there is actually something in lane one.
0:16:42 > 0:16:45We've got three lanes of traffic coming onto the roundabout
0:16:45 > 0:16:48and then two lanes have to decide where they're going
0:16:48 > 0:16:49once they see the vehicle.
0:16:50 > 0:16:53So, the two lanes have to merge into one, and, as you can see here,
0:16:53 > 0:16:55this is where the problem arises.
0:16:59 > 0:17:02With traffic jockeying for position just a few feet
0:17:02 > 0:17:04from the stricken tanker,
0:17:04 > 0:17:07the driver's words aren't filling Rob with confidence.
0:17:09 > 0:17:12When they actually go up in flames, they burn for about eight hours.
0:17:12 > 0:17:13The fire engines don't bother putting them out,
0:17:13 > 0:17:16they just let them burn and protect everything around them,
0:17:16 > 0:17:17cos you can't put it out.
0:17:18 > 0:17:22But even as the traffic lessens, the problems grow.
0:17:22 > 0:17:23HORN BLAST
0:17:25 > 0:17:28It is... Honestly, it's frustrating to watch, because sometimes
0:17:28 > 0:17:31you can see something happening before it even happens.
0:17:31 > 0:17:34And when you see there are people not paying attention,
0:17:34 > 0:17:37you can, you know, predict something might happen.
0:17:40 > 0:17:42After the tanker has been stranded
0:17:42 > 0:17:44on the roundabout for an hour and a half,
0:17:44 > 0:17:49finally a mechanic arrives to try and fix the vehicle's brakes.
0:17:49 > 0:17:51I think the air press is obviously dropped on one wheel.
0:17:51 > 0:17:54If I can hear it's got an air leak, then I can blank it off
0:17:54 > 0:17:55and the brakes will release.
0:17:58 > 0:18:00With the tanker's brakes released...
0:18:02 > 0:18:05Good, that's good. That should have everything covered.
0:18:05 > 0:18:08..and the cones removed,
0:18:08 > 0:18:11Rob and Steve can escort the vehicle to a lay-by,
0:18:11 > 0:18:13where proper repairs can be carried out.
0:18:13 > 0:18:16It's not had too much of an impact, I'm glad to say,
0:18:16 > 0:18:19but with tankers, you can never be too careful with them.
0:18:19 > 0:18:22Nice to meet you, guys.
0:18:22 > 0:18:25I didn't want it going up in smoke. If that's got that hot,
0:18:25 > 0:18:27the last thing you want to do is be moving it unnecessarily,
0:18:27 > 0:18:31but it is cooled down and if the fitter's happy, then we're happy.
0:18:31 > 0:18:34If it gets the motorway open or the road open, we're even happier.
0:18:35 > 0:18:37So, the A1 is clear for now.
0:18:38 > 0:18:42But with this stretch being a major route in and out of the capital,
0:18:42 > 0:18:44it won't be long before the South Mimms Traffic Team
0:18:44 > 0:18:45will be needed again.
0:18:52 > 0:18:54Four hours' journey away in Northumberland
0:18:54 > 0:18:56is a very different stretch of the A1
0:18:56 > 0:18:58where accidents can often happen.
0:19:03 > 0:19:06PC Darren Lant has a laser speed gun and is watching
0:19:06 > 0:19:09for drivers exceeding the limit as the road passes Morpeth.
0:19:12 > 0:19:15One of his most frequent stops is a man in a van,
0:19:15 > 0:19:17which is usually white.
0:19:17 > 0:19:18SPEED GUN BEEPS
0:19:20 > 0:19:23And Darren's spotted one he thinks is travelling too fast.
0:19:25 > 0:19:27White van. We might get the white van.
0:19:30 > 0:19:3277. We'll have a chat with him.
0:19:34 > 0:19:3877mph is over the limit for any vehicle on the A1.
0:19:38 > 0:19:41But on this stretch, the rules are different for cars
0:19:41 > 0:19:44than they are for small goods vehicles like this one.
0:19:44 > 0:19:48Some drivers of Transit-style vehicles, they forget,
0:19:48 > 0:19:51or they're unaware, that the speed limit for that vehicle,
0:19:51 > 0:19:53for that type of vehicle on a dual carriageway,
0:19:53 > 0:19:55is only 60mph and not 70.
0:19:55 > 0:19:57So, what I'll do is, as soon as I find a safe place,
0:19:57 > 0:20:00I'll stop the driver and see why he was travelling at 17mph
0:20:00 > 0:20:03over the speed limit for that type of vehicle.
0:20:03 > 0:20:06The problem is that... Certainly for the smaller goods vehicles,
0:20:06 > 0:20:09drivers either just decide they're going to travel above the limit
0:20:09 > 0:20:12or they just don't know the more weight that it's got to stop,
0:20:12 > 0:20:14the increased stopping distance, the harder it is to stop
0:20:14 > 0:20:16one of those vehicles. You can't just stop them.
0:20:16 > 0:20:18SIREN WHOOPS
0:20:18 > 0:20:20This gentleman knew... Yeah, he knew.
0:20:20 > 0:20:22He's been sitting, waiting for me.
0:20:30 > 0:20:33Good morning, sir. How are we doing? Any idea why I've stopped you?
0:20:33 > 0:20:35- Going a bit too fast.- You were going a bit too fast, weren't you?
0:20:35 > 0:20:38Switch it off, come and have a chat with me for two seconds
0:20:38 > 0:20:40and we'll take it from there.
0:20:40 > 0:20:43Delivery driver Sam uses the A1 regularly.
0:20:45 > 0:20:48And by breaking the speed limit, he's not only risking an accident,
0:20:48 > 0:20:50he's also risking his job.
0:20:50 > 0:20:53The reason why I've stopped you, Sam, as you quite rightly said,
0:20:53 > 0:20:55you were going a bit too fast on the dual carriageway there
0:20:55 > 0:20:57as you were coming up the hill, all right?
0:20:57 > 0:20:59What's the speed limit for your van?
0:21:01 > 0:21:0270? Yeah, OK.
0:21:02 > 0:21:03What makes you think that?
0:21:05 > 0:21:08That van, on a dual carriageway, it's only 60mph.
0:21:08 > 0:21:10And you're doing 77.
0:21:10 > 0:21:12If you thought it was 70, you're still speeding.
0:21:12 > 0:21:14Yes, it's only 7mph,
0:21:14 > 0:21:18but it's another 7mph faster, that's affecting your speed,
0:21:18 > 0:21:20your braking distance, your stopping distance,
0:21:20 > 0:21:21- all those sort of things.- Yeah.
0:21:21 > 0:21:24It's not a massive amount over, but, nevertheless, it's still over.
0:21:26 > 0:21:28Police will take into account driving history
0:21:28 > 0:21:31when deciding how to deal with a speeding offence.
0:21:33 > 0:21:34Thank you.
0:21:36 > 0:21:38- Have you been on a speed awareness course?- No.
0:21:38 > 0:21:39It'll cost you, OK?
0:21:39 > 0:21:41You don't get the point, you don't get the fine.
0:21:41 > 0:21:44So, unless you've got any other questions, you're free to go.
0:21:46 > 0:21:48Basically, I was just coming down the hill, I thought...
0:21:48 > 0:21:51I know I was going a little bit faster than I should have been.
0:21:51 > 0:21:54I think they could make the signage better.
0:21:54 > 0:21:56Put a sign up with different types of vehicles
0:21:56 > 0:21:58and tell you your speed limits.
0:21:58 > 0:22:01Obviously, now I know it's a 60mph limit,
0:22:01 > 0:22:03so I'll keep it to the limit that I know now.
0:22:04 > 0:22:07Sam drives off to finish his deliveries.
0:22:07 > 0:22:12He will need to complete a speed awareness course in the next six months.
0:22:13 > 0:22:15I think the trouble is, people pick up the Highway Code
0:22:15 > 0:22:17when they're doing their driving lessons
0:22:17 > 0:22:20and become very knowledgeable of it before that test.
0:22:20 > 0:22:22Once they're successful and pass that test,
0:22:22 > 0:22:25that Highway Code gets put on the shelf and gets forgotten about
0:22:25 > 0:22:29and it's never read again. So, I'm in favour of, every now and then,
0:22:29 > 0:22:31people should maybe have a look at it and just refresh themselves.
0:22:31 > 0:22:35I know all the speed limits for whatever vehicle I'm driving,
0:22:35 > 0:22:37so there's no reason why you shouldn't.
0:22:44 > 0:22:48Around 15 miles away in Newcastle, temperatures have plummeted.
0:22:51 > 0:22:55And Darren's colleague, PC Alan Keenleyside, is bracing himself
0:22:55 > 0:22:58for a busy shift patrolling the road.
0:23:00 > 0:23:02When the alarm goes off and you open them curtains,
0:23:02 > 0:23:05it's a white frost or there's ice or snow, you think,
0:23:05 > 0:23:08unless it clears, unless it gets warmer,
0:23:08 > 0:23:09it's going to be a busy day.
0:23:11 > 0:23:15Out on the A1, it's not long before he spots an incident.
0:23:15 > 0:23:17We've come up behind a broken-down wagon,
0:23:17 > 0:23:18which is getting its tyre fixed.
0:23:18 > 0:23:21I'm just going to make sure he's all right, doesn't need a hand.
0:23:24 > 0:23:28Are you all right, mate? Just seeing if you need a hand, that's all.
0:23:28 > 0:23:30- Thanks, all sorted. - Is it nearside or offside?
0:23:30 > 0:23:31- Nearside.- Nearside.
0:23:31 > 0:23:35But Alan suddenly catches sight of another vehicle on the carriageway.
0:23:36 > 0:23:38And immediately gives chase.
0:23:38 > 0:23:40SIREN WHOOPS
0:23:43 > 0:23:45Just as we were getting back in the vehicle there,
0:23:45 > 0:23:47I heard a car go past
0:23:47 > 0:23:49and when you work on the A1,
0:23:49 > 0:23:53you become aware of the sounds of vehicles travelling past you.
0:23:53 > 0:23:55And this vehicle didn't sound right.
0:23:55 > 0:23:58The contact of the tyres sounded wrong.
0:23:58 > 0:24:01When I looked at the tyre, it was really far down, underinflated.
0:24:01 > 0:24:03I think it was the back left tyre.
0:24:06 > 0:24:11If you brake heavily, or have to react in an emergency,
0:24:11 > 0:24:13your vehicle behaves differently.
0:24:13 > 0:24:16When you're travelling at 70mph, it's really, really dangerous.
0:24:20 > 0:24:22HORN TOOTS
0:24:23 > 0:24:25I want you in the slip road, mate.
0:24:30 > 0:24:32- Hello, how are you?- All right?
0:24:32 > 0:24:34I was just at a broken-down HGV.
0:24:34 > 0:24:38When you went past, I heard a sound coming from your vehicle, all right?
0:24:38 > 0:24:42When I had a look, your back tyre's actually really underinflated.
0:24:42 > 0:24:45- Oh, right.- Are you aware of that or not?- No, not today.
0:24:47 > 0:24:48It possibly is.
0:24:48 > 0:24:50It's well down, like, you know?
0:24:50 > 0:24:52So if I go like that...
0:24:53 > 0:24:56There's nothing in, and it's certainly severe enough
0:24:56 > 0:24:59for me to say to you, you need to leave the A1.
0:24:59 > 0:25:00Into that petrol station,
0:25:00 > 0:25:03get some air into it and then at least monitor it.
0:25:03 > 0:25:06- No problem.- But you need to know about that.
0:25:06 > 0:25:08It's a real safety issue, especially on these roads.
0:25:08 > 0:25:11- Right, we'll come off to the garage. - And get some air in.
0:25:11 > 0:25:13I just need to get the driver's details,
0:25:13 > 0:25:15- just check him out on the system. - All right.
0:25:15 > 0:25:19But the routine check brings up some surprising results.
0:25:19 > 0:25:20RADIO:
0:25:28 > 0:25:30Yes, yes, all received here, thanks.
0:25:30 > 0:25:33It appears that the driver potentially has an issue
0:25:33 > 0:25:35with regards to his driving licence,
0:25:35 > 0:25:38so I'm going to have to make some enquiries,
0:25:38 > 0:25:40but with straightforward words of advice,
0:25:40 > 0:25:42"You need some air in your tyre,"
0:25:42 > 0:25:46as quite often is the case, I've got to say, is potentially...
0:25:46 > 0:25:48Excuse the pun, giving the weather,
0:25:48 > 0:25:50snowballing into something a little bit more.
0:25:52 > 0:25:54Right, can I have a quick word?
0:25:54 > 0:25:56- Yeah.- Just in my car, if that's all right.
0:25:56 > 0:25:59What's occurring, all right - I've just done some checks on you.
0:25:59 > 0:26:03You were disqualified in 2014-2015.
0:26:03 > 0:26:04- I believe I was, yes.- Yeah.- Aye.
0:26:04 > 0:26:07- It's shown that your...- With no insurance and stuff like that.
0:26:07 > 0:26:11That was it. It's shown that you haven't got a driving licence.
0:26:11 > 0:26:14It's saying that your licence has expired.
0:26:14 > 0:26:16It expired substantive.
0:26:16 > 0:26:19I wouldn't have thought it would have been expired. Did I...?
0:26:21 > 0:26:23Erm... Let's see...
0:26:24 > 0:26:26If you've been disqualified,
0:26:26 > 0:26:29- you need to apply for a new licence before you can drive.- Ah, right.
0:26:29 > 0:26:32Essentially, until you've done that, after you've been disqualified,
0:26:32 > 0:26:33you can't drive.
0:26:33 > 0:26:36I've had no notification saying that I had to reapply for my license.
0:26:36 > 0:26:38- Right.- I thought I was stopped from that time...
0:26:38 > 0:26:40- Yeah, yeah, yeah.- And then...
0:26:40 > 0:26:43- when that time was over, I could start again.- OK.
0:26:43 > 0:26:47With the driver's passenger also unable to drive,
0:26:47 > 0:26:51it leaves Alan with little choice about what to do with the vehicle.
0:26:51 > 0:26:54And now he has to interview the driver under caution.
0:26:54 > 0:26:55The vehicle needs to be seized.
0:26:55 > 0:26:57- Right.- All right? I'm going to caution you.
0:26:57 > 0:27:01You don't have to say anything, but it may harm your defence if you don't mention now
0:27:01 > 0:27:04something which you later rely on in court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence.
0:27:04 > 0:27:06There's no doubt in my mind that
0:27:06 > 0:27:09that driver will receive a summons in the post to attend court.
0:27:11 > 0:27:13The Road Traffic Act's there to be followed.
0:27:13 > 0:27:15If you drive a car or a van, or a wagon,
0:27:15 > 0:27:18you've got to make sure you've got the licence and insurance to do it,
0:27:18 > 0:27:21and if you don't, you're going to have to take those consequences.
0:27:22 > 0:27:26People are driving around without insurance, without driving licences.
0:27:26 > 0:27:29All it takes is you get a little puncture, policeman sees it,
0:27:29 > 0:27:33policeman stops you, and all of a sudden, that's it, you're...
0:27:33 > 0:27:36You're captured. There's no getting away from it.
0:27:36 > 0:27:38Nice guy, but...
0:27:38 > 0:27:40driving without a licence on the A1.
0:27:48 > 0:27:52The driver caught with no licence received three points on his record
0:27:52 > 0:27:55and had to pay almost £200 in costs.
0:27:55 > 0:27:58The delivery driver caught speeding
0:27:58 > 0:28:01failed to attend his speed awareness course
0:28:01 > 0:28:04and faces prosecution.