0:00:02 > 0:00:04The A1. Britain's longest road.
0:00:05 > 0:00:09Stretching almost 400 miles from the City of London
0:00:09 > 0:00:13to the heart of the Scottish capital.
0:00:13 > 0:00:17Connecting two nations and passing through 18 counties.
0:00:17 > 0:00:19It's an unrivalled highway used
0:00:19 > 0:00:22by 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 > 0:00:35I thought, "I'm going to lose my life."
0:00:35 > 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.
0:00:47 > 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 > 0:01:01We don't know whether they've got the road closed or...
0:01:01 > 0:01:04- we don't know what happened. - ..and traffic officers...
0:01:06 > 0:01:07Keep going.
0:01:08 > 0:01:11..keeping Britain's most iconic road...
0:01:11 > 0:01:13- Get out!- ..on the move.
0:01:14 > 0:01:17Substantially damaged flatbed truck in lane two.
0:01:18 > 0:01:22The A1, the monster that it is, will start returning to normal.
0:01:25 > 0:01:26Coming up...
0:01:27 > 0:01:30A dangerous breakdown in the fast lane
0:01:30 > 0:01:34spells double trouble for A1 traffic officers.
0:01:34 > 0:01:36Is that driveable or not?
0:01:36 > 0:01:37Can that drive?
0:01:37 > 0:01:41Police smell danger on a routine roadside check.
0:01:41 > 0:01:42We've searched the van. Inside,
0:01:42 > 0:01:44there's some of this cannabis bush here.
0:01:44 > 0:01:47We'll see what the lads have to say about this.
0:01:47 > 0:01:50And the race to rescue commuters after a rush-hour pile-up.
0:01:50 > 0:01:53Time's really of the essence today. We can't afford to hang around.
0:01:57 > 0:02:01There are more than 2,000 accidents on the A1 every year,
0:02:01 > 0:02:05and more than 160 of them occur on a ten-mile stretch
0:02:05 > 0:02:07of the road near Newcastle.
0:02:09 > 0:02:11It's rush hour on a Friday afternoon -
0:02:11 > 0:02:16one of the busiest times of the week for bumps and shunts.
0:02:16 > 0:02:18A1 patrol officer PC Alan Keenleyside
0:02:18 > 0:02:23is battling to make his way to the scene of a three-vehicle pile-up.
0:02:23 > 0:02:26Southbound on the A1, just at the MetroCentre now,
0:02:26 > 0:02:29we're two, two and a half miles away from the incident.
0:02:29 > 0:02:32We need to get there, make that nice and safe.
0:02:32 > 0:02:36First reports suggest the accident has happened in the outside lane,
0:02:36 > 0:02:39often the scene of the most serious collisions.
0:02:39 > 0:02:41Time's really of the essence today.
0:02:41 > 0:02:44We can't afford to hang around.
0:02:44 > 0:02:46But with the accident causing virtual gridlock,
0:02:46 > 0:02:50vital seconds are being lost.
0:02:50 > 0:02:53AIR HORN BLASTS
0:02:53 > 0:02:56We'll never push people,
0:02:56 > 0:02:58or have a go at anybody for doing the wrong thing.
0:02:58 > 0:03:01People generally try and help to get you through.
0:03:01 > 0:03:03At the end of the day, if we don't get through,
0:03:03 > 0:03:08they don't get home because they're still stuck behind.
0:03:08 > 0:03:10Tango 12-34.
0:03:10 > 0:03:13At the scene, Alan soon discovers that two lanes are blocked...
0:03:13 > 0:03:16Currently taking out lane two and three.
0:03:16 > 0:03:19..with only a trickle of cars able to get through.
0:03:19 > 0:03:23So, I've just given them an update on the radio there.
0:03:23 > 0:03:26That now buys me that time to get down there,
0:03:26 > 0:03:28find out what's going on,
0:03:28 > 0:03:31and give people the help that they need.
0:03:31 > 0:03:34Two white vans and a car have been badly damaged,
0:03:34 > 0:03:37and the Fire Brigade are already at the scene.
0:03:37 > 0:03:38You all right, guys?
0:03:39 > 0:03:44It's looking like a typical rear-end shunt here on the A1.
0:03:44 > 0:03:46Luckily, we're not looking at any serious injuries.
0:03:46 > 0:03:49We're just actually working out a plan now to get that vehicle moved
0:03:49 > 0:03:51and then deal with this collision off the A1
0:03:51 > 0:03:53and get that backlog of traffic cleared.
0:03:53 > 0:03:56But clearly, we need to make sure we can do that safely.
0:03:56 > 0:04:01For van driver Keith Grazier, the crash came out of nowhere.
0:04:01 > 0:04:03Basically, slammed their brakes on.
0:04:05 > 0:04:06It was too quick to happen.
0:04:06 > 0:04:09It was just too quick.
0:04:09 > 0:04:10So I went into the back.
0:04:10 > 0:04:13With its front end smashed, the Corsa is a write-off.
0:04:13 > 0:04:17But fortunately, driver Gareth Edwards has got off lightly.
0:04:17 > 0:04:21I'm all right. A few cuts and that. I'll be all right.
0:04:21 > 0:04:24He travels up the A1 to Scotland twice a week,
0:04:24 > 0:04:26from his home in Doncaster,
0:04:26 > 0:04:29but it's the first time he's been involved in a crash himself.
0:04:29 > 0:04:34I was travelling down here about 30, 40 feet behind that car in front.
0:04:34 > 0:04:36He's basically slammed on.
0:04:36 > 0:04:39I tried my best to stop, but basically I didn't have a chance.
0:04:39 > 0:04:41I'm used to traffic and accidents,
0:04:41 > 0:04:45I've just never been in one before today.
0:04:45 > 0:04:46HE CHUCKLES
0:04:46 > 0:04:48With no major injuries,
0:04:48 > 0:04:51Alan's priority is to get the road reopened.
0:04:51 > 0:04:54That's going to need a full lift, the van.
0:04:54 > 0:04:56Yeah, back end's knackered. I've just had a look.
0:04:56 > 0:04:59But his hopes of easing the Friday rush-hour congestion
0:04:59 > 0:05:01quickly hit a snag.
0:05:02 > 0:05:04A little bit of a situation.
0:05:04 > 0:05:06We were hoping to reopen lane two.
0:05:06 > 0:05:08Because of the proximity of the vehicles,
0:05:08 > 0:05:11we need to protect my colleague here, who's recovering the vehicles.
0:05:11 > 0:05:14We've actually also got a bit of oil which has developed in lane two.
0:05:14 > 0:05:18So my colleagues from Highways England are actually going to get
0:05:18 > 0:05:20some oil-dry on, brush it in.
0:05:20 > 0:05:24While we've got this lane closed, try to get as much of this cleansed
0:05:24 > 0:05:26so the road's nice and safe when we get it reopened.
0:05:29 > 0:05:32It's taken around half an hour for Alan and his colleagues to clear
0:05:32 > 0:05:35the crash and make the A1 safe again.
0:05:37 > 0:05:40Universal thumbs-up.
0:05:40 > 0:05:41International language of the road.
0:05:44 > 0:05:45As Alan heads north,
0:05:45 > 0:05:48he soon sees from the tailbacks just how much the crash has affected
0:05:48 > 0:05:51traffic along the road.
0:05:52 > 0:05:55That collision couldn't have come at a worse time because this road
0:05:55 > 0:05:58starts to build up anyway, round about this sort of time,
0:05:58 > 0:06:01so potentially could be an unrecoverable situation.
0:06:03 > 0:06:06Of course, now, if we get another incident south,
0:06:06 > 0:06:08I've got to get through this.
0:06:08 > 0:06:10This is where the local knowledge kicks in.
0:06:10 > 0:06:12We may end up using some alternative routes.
0:06:12 > 0:06:14Even though the A1's the quickest way to get around the region,
0:06:14 > 0:06:16sometimes we've got to get off the A1
0:06:16 > 0:06:18to get where we want to be quickly.
0:06:25 > 0:06:28Keeping the A1 moving is a 24/7 job.
0:06:28 > 0:06:32And it's not only accidents which can cause snarl-ups.
0:06:32 > 0:06:36Every year, Highways England traffic officers deal with more than 4,000
0:06:36 > 0:06:38breakdowns on the road.
0:06:38 > 0:06:40But by far the most dangerous
0:06:40 > 0:06:43is when a car comes to a stop in the outside lane.
0:06:46 > 0:06:50Peter Senior and Scott Wilson are hurrying to a high-risk situation
0:06:50 > 0:06:52on the A1 at Newcastle.
0:06:54 > 0:06:58We're just currently turning at junction 74 to attend.
0:06:58 > 0:07:00We should be on the scene in a few minutes. Over.
0:07:00 > 0:07:05A car is stranded in the outside lane at the busiest time of day.
0:07:05 > 0:07:06The driver's pregnant.
0:07:06 > 0:07:11So, for the traffic officers, it's a grade-one priority case.
0:07:11 > 0:07:13329 received.
0:07:13 > 0:07:15Whether we're able to move the vehicle or not, I don't know.
0:07:15 > 0:07:19But due to the location, it may be worth getting CF travelling. Over.
0:07:19 > 0:07:22The risk of a pile-up here is huge.
0:07:22 > 0:07:25And with traffic on the other carriageway slowing to look,
0:07:25 > 0:07:28there's also the possibility of a collision there, too.
0:07:28 > 0:07:33If you get control of the traffic, I'll go and have a...word.
0:07:34 > 0:07:38With lives in danger, Peter and Scott must act fast.
0:07:38 > 0:07:43The priority has to be to get the stranded driver to safety.
0:07:43 > 0:07:44Next, they must warn other drivers
0:07:44 > 0:07:47in the hope of preventing a high-speed pile-up.
0:07:47 > 0:07:50So, what's happening with this vehicle at the minute,
0:07:50 > 0:07:51it's got total loss of power.
0:07:51 > 0:07:55So we've got a recovery agent on the way.
0:07:55 > 0:07:59Peter and Scott have done all they can to keep everyone safe,
0:07:59 > 0:08:03but already the breakdown is becoming a dangerous distraction
0:08:03 > 0:08:04to other road users.
0:08:05 > 0:08:07THUMP
0:08:07 > 0:08:11And now this case has just got more serious.
0:08:11 > 0:08:14As you can see, over the road, there's been an RTC.
0:08:14 > 0:08:15Whether this is down to rubbernecking or what,
0:08:15 > 0:08:18or someone being on the phone or anything, I don't know.
0:08:18 > 0:08:21With us already dealing with a live lane over here,
0:08:21 > 0:08:23we can't go over there and deal with it.
0:08:23 > 0:08:25There's a high risk of serious injury
0:08:25 > 0:08:27when crashing at such high speeds.
0:08:27 > 0:08:30Scott's concerned about the drivers.
0:08:30 > 0:08:33Excuse me. Do you need an ambulance?
0:08:33 > 0:08:36No? You're all right? Is that driveable or not?
0:08:36 > 0:08:38Can that drive?
0:08:38 > 0:08:40That can, yeah?
0:08:40 > 0:08:42The cars are badly damaged
0:08:42 > 0:08:44but at least they can leave the A1 without assistance.
0:08:44 > 0:08:49It means Scott and Peter can now focus on the original incident.
0:08:49 > 0:08:53It's not uncommon that this happens because quite often we're busy
0:08:53 > 0:08:56dealing with an incident on one carriageway,
0:08:56 > 0:08:58people on the other side start trying to look across
0:08:58 > 0:09:01to see what we're dealing with and, you know,
0:09:01 > 0:09:03they lose that concentration.
0:09:04 > 0:09:05And that's what can happen.
0:09:07 > 0:09:10As the incident has been classed as a priority,
0:09:10 > 0:09:13Peter and Scott have arranged for a recovery truck
0:09:13 > 0:09:15to be sent to the scene as soon as possible.
0:09:17 > 0:09:22At the moment, Scott's down by the initial part of the closure.
0:09:22 > 0:09:23He's just watching the traffic.
0:09:23 > 0:09:26The priority now is just get the truck on,
0:09:26 > 0:09:29get the car away and the lady to a safe place.
0:09:30 > 0:09:34A police car is now at the scene to assist with the safe reopening of
0:09:34 > 0:09:37the lane. Meanwhile, the pregnant driver will be taken away
0:09:37 > 0:09:38in the recovery vehicle.
0:09:40 > 0:09:44What's happening now is the police are closing off lane three with
0:09:44 > 0:09:46their vehicle, giving us protection to be able to remove our closure.
0:09:46 > 0:09:50I'm just going to give my colleague a hand now to lift the gear in.
0:09:51 > 0:09:55Half an hour after first arriving on the scene, the carriageway is clear.
0:09:56 > 0:09:59And Peter and Scott can reopen the lane,
0:09:59 > 0:10:03confident that their actions have helped a driver in peril in a case
0:10:03 > 0:10:05that could have been a whole lot worse.
0:10:05 > 0:10:08Unfortunately, as well, the young lady,
0:10:08 > 0:10:12she decided just to sit in the car till help could arrive.
0:10:12 > 0:10:13In a situation like that,
0:10:13 > 0:10:17what people really need to do is get out of the vehicle and get behind
0:10:17 > 0:10:21a safety barrier until help arrives.
0:10:21 > 0:10:24It was just fortunate we were in the right place at the right time
0:10:24 > 0:10:27to get to her quickly. It is a frightening experience,
0:10:27 > 0:10:30someone being stuck in lane three of a carriageway.
0:10:34 > 0:10:38Dealing with the unexpected is part of the daily life of the teams
0:10:38 > 0:10:40that keep the A1 safe and moving.
0:10:42 > 0:10:47Just a few miles up the road, PC Alan Keenleyside running
0:10:47 > 0:10:51a routine check for drivers with no MOT or insurance.
0:10:51 > 0:10:54Any passing him will be caught by his onboard camera,
0:10:54 > 0:10:56triggering an alarm.
0:10:56 > 0:10:58I'm just looking at a transit van.
0:11:00 > 0:11:03A couple of cars up in the slow lane
0:11:03 > 0:11:06and it's shown us the MOT expired on the vehicle.
0:11:06 > 0:11:09I'll stop the driver, just have a quick word with him
0:11:09 > 0:11:11and advise him of that.
0:11:12 > 0:11:15That's handy. He's taken the off slip.
0:11:15 > 0:11:18It's a job Alan has done countless times.
0:11:20 > 0:11:22Morning, mate. Are you all right?
0:11:22 > 0:11:25The reason I've stopped you, all right,
0:11:25 > 0:11:28is I've just done a check on the radio and your vehicle is showing as
0:11:28 > 0:11:30the MOT expired back in January.
0:11:30 > 0:11:32Come jump in my car just for two seconds.
0:11:32 > 0:11:35I'll do some checks. Just take the back seat in there.
0:11:35 > 0:11:37I'll just have a quick word with you.
0:11:37 > 0:11:38But, on this occasion,
0:11:38 > 0:11:42Alan's instinct tells him today is going to be anything but routine.
0:11:42 > 0:11:47Thought I caught a waft of cannabis before.
0:11:47 > 0:11:50I've got a bit of a sniffer-dog type nose for that,
0:11:50 > 0:11:52so I'm just going to have a word with this driver
0:11:52 > 0:11:53and see what he's got to say.
0:11:53 > 0:11:55New laws introduced two years ago
0:11:55 > 0:11:59set a legal limit for the amount of drugs in a driver's system
0:11:59 > 0:12:01and improved roadside tests mean cases
0:12:01 > 0:12:04can now be investigated much more easily.
0:12:04 > 0:12:07When I opened the door in the van, I got a waft of cannabis.
0:12:07 > 0:12:09- Do you have any on you? - No, it's not me.
0:12:09 > 0:12:12Do you use cannabis at all or anything like that?
0:12:12 > 0:12:13Occasionally, but not today.
0:12:13 > 0:12:15Right. Not today. No use at all.
0:12:15 > 0:12:19Having no MOT could be the least of this driver's problems.
0:12:19 > 0:12:22Because I got a smell of it, all right, I'll give you a quick search.
0:12:22 > 0:12:25But I'm also going to go through a roadside testing procedure.
0:12:25 > 0:12:28- Right.- It'll take a few minutes just to quickly go through that.
0:12:28 > 0:12:30Here's a question. What's your date of birth?
0:12:30 > 0:12:33- Today.- You were born today?!
0:12:33 > 0:12:35Many happy returns. How old are you?
0:12:35 > 0:12:37- Thank you very much. 37.- 37.
0:12:37 > 0:12:41Alan cautions the driver before delivering some unpalatable news.
0:12:43 > 0:12:47So, you're now required to provide a specimen of saliva as I have
0:12:47 > 0:12:50reasonable cause to suspect you of driving a motor vehicle
0:12:50 > 0:12:54having a specified drug in your body.
0:12:54 > 0:12:57- OK.- It's not particularly nice, all right.
0:12:57 > 0:13:01You hold your tongue out. What we do is we just swab three times,
0:13:01 > 0:13:04three or four times down onto those sensors there.
0:13:04 > 0:13:06All right. Keep going.
0:13:06 > 0:13:08Keep going. Keep going. That's it.
0:13:08 > 0:13:10Thank you.
0:13:10 > 0:13:12- Not a very nice job, is it?- No.
0:13:12 > 0:13:16Now we hold it flat and it can take somewhere in the region of about
0:13:16 > 0:13:20eight minutes for that to come up. OK.
0:13:20 > 0:13:22Just a bit of a waiting game on that one now.
0:13:22 > 0:13:25While Alan has been interviewing the driver, his colleague,
0:13:25 > 0:13:29PC Darren Lant, has been up ahead searching the van.
0:13:29 > 0:13:32Is it your van, is it, or a company van?
0:13:32 > 0:13:35All right. OK. Anything in the van you shouldn't have?
0:13:38 > 0:13:40You've just got it this morning, have you?
0:13:42 > 0:13:45Certainly look after their vehicle, don't they?
0:13:45 > 0:13:47There's an experiment growing in that one, I think.
0:13:48 > 0:13:52And the driver's nightmare start to his birthday looks like it's about
0:13:52 > 0:13:54to get a whole lot worse.
0:13:57 > 0:13:59We've searched the van.
0:13:59 > 0:14:03Inside this bag of half-eaten stotties and sandwiches and...
0:14:05 > 0:14:09..drinks cans, there was some of this cannabis bush here.
0:14:09 > 0:14:13So we'll give this to Alan and take it from there and see what the lads
0:14:13 > 0:14:16have got to say about it. It might mean that we have to take the van
0:14:16 > 0:14:18away and get it checked over properly by a drugs dog.
0:14:18 > 0:14:20Have you got a drugs bag in your car?
0:14:20 > 0:14:22- I've got a bag.- Get the bag, please.
0:14:22 > 0:14:26With the driver's roadside drug test nearing its conclusion,
0:14:26 > 0:14:29Alan has another discovery that's going to need some explaining.
0:14:38 > 0:14:42Congestion on Britain's road network costs the economy an estimated
0:14:42 > 0:14:44£13 billion a year.
0:14:44 > 0:14:48While many motorists on the A1 point the finger at roadworks,
0:14:48 > 0:14:52they actually account for only about 10% of annual delays.
0:14:53 > 0:14:57Back on patrol, PC Darren Lant is cracking down on motorists
0:14:57 > 0:14:59speeding through roadworks.
0:15:01 > 0:15:04This little red Polo in front of me,
0:15:04 > 0:15:08he's just decided to ignore the temporary speed limit.
0:15:08 > 0:15:10As we come out of Morpeth there,
0:15:10 > 0:15:13it's a temporary speed limit of 40mph for a reason.
0:15:13 > 0:15:15This guy's just come hurtling through there, mid-50s,
0:15:15 > 0:15:17completely ignoring it.
0:15:17 > 0:15:20We'll have a stop with him, we'll have a quick chat.
0:15:20 > 0:15:22I think he knows it's coming.
0:15:23 > 0:15:27It's just after nine o'clock and rush hour should be over but it
0:15:27 > 0:15:30appears this motorist's running a little late.
0:15:31 > 0:15:34Hello, sir. How are you doing? All right? In a hurry?
0:15:37 > 0:15:39You need to get to work. All right.
0:15:39 > 0:15:40Come and have a chat with me
0:15:40 > 0:15:42and I'll explain to you why I've stopped you.
0:15:42 > 0:15:45Take the seat in the back on that side for me, please.
0:15:45 > 0:15:48All right. Any ideas why I've stopped you?
0:15:50 > 0:15:51Yeah.
0:15:51 > 0:15:54But while the driver understands his speeding is why Darren's pulled
0:15:54 > 0:15:57him over, he's still not convinced he's in the wrong.
0:15:57 > 0:15:59It's what...? It's so pointless, is it?
0:16:05 > 0:16:08I'm sure the people that are working in and around the area,
0:16:08 > 0:16:11although they might not have been on the road at that particular time,
0:16:11 > 0:16:13would disagree that it's not particularly pointless.
0:16:13 > 0:16:16Do you want to watch the video of you going through or are you quite
0:16:16 > 0:16:18- happy you were speeding? - No, I know I was speeding.
0:16:18 > 0:16:21- Do you know what speed you were doing?- 55.- Spot on.
0:16:21 > 0:16:23All right.
0:16:23 > 0:16:25It's not the first time Liam's
0:16:25 > 0:16:27speeding has put him on the wrong side of the law.
0:16:27 > 0:16:30You got a full licence, Liam, have you?
0:16:30 > 0:16:32Any points or anything on it?
0:16:32 > 0:16:33Yeah, three, I think.
0:16:33 > 0:16:35What was that for? Speeding?
0:16:35 > 0:16:38I had just passed, so I thought the average speed cameras...
0:16:38 > 0:16:41I thought it was the average at each camera.
0:16:41 > 0:16:44- I didn't realise... - The average at each camera?
0:16:45 > 0:16:48That's a new one. Was that a pointless speed limit as well?
0:16:48 > 0:16:50No. You know what I mean.
0:16:50 > 0:16:53The speed limits are there for a reason.
0:16:53 > 0:16:55They're not pointless.
0:16:55 > 0:16:57The way I propose to deal with it, Liam,
0:16:57 > 0:17:00is to arrange for you to go on a speed awareness course.
0:17:00 > 0:17:02All right? No points, no fine.
0:17:02 > 0:17:05But, obviously, you've got to pay to go on the course. All right?
0:17:05 > 0:17:09Speed awareness courses were introduced in the late 1980s
0:17:09 > 0:17:14in the hope that educating offenders like Liam would lead to long-term
0:17:14 > 0:17:15changes in their behaviour,
0:17:15 > 0:17:18rather than just punishing them with points and fines.
0:17:20 > 0:17:22I didn't see the police to start with.
0:17:22 > 0:17:25Then I thought, "I'd better slow down here."
0:17:25 > 0:17:28Then I saw him weaving a bit, trying to get my attention.
0:17:28 > 0:17:30Then the lights came on.
0:17:30 > 0:17:32I thought, "God, not again."
0:17:32 > 0:17:34But, for Liam, who now faces
0:17:34 > 0:17:37four hours of intensive road safety lessons,
0:17:37 > 0:17:41slowing down for roadworks still seems to be a hard sell.
0:17:42 > 0:17:46When there's no workers in the road and the cones are on the side of
0:17:46 > 0:17:49the road and stuff, I don't know why the speed limit's 40.
0:17:49 > 0:17:5240, I think, is a bit low for
0:17:52 > 0:17:55no workers on the road, especially.
0:17:59 > 0:18:02He had a very strange and quite worrying
0:18:02 > 0:18:05point of view that the speed limit was pointless.
0:18:05 > 0:18:07It's a dangerous point of view to have.
0:18:07 > 0:18:09They're there for a reason.
0:18:09 > 0:18:12So, yes, there might not be anybody working there but it's other stuff
0:18:12 > 0:18:14that's going around that causes the distraction.
0:18:14 > 0:18:16People get interested in what's happening over there
0:18:16 > 0:18:18or they're looking at this and they're looking at that
0:18:18 > 0:18:20and they're not concentrating on their drive.
0:18:20 > 0:18:21Everything's done for safety.
0:18:21 > 0:18:24People might not like it but it's there for their safety
0:18:24 > 0:18:26as much as the contractors' safety.
0:18:30 > 0:18:34More than 270 miles away, at the southern end
0:18:34 > 0:18:37of the A1 in Hertfordshire, traffic officers Richard Jones
0:18:37 > 0:18:41and Carl Hemingfield have been dispatched to a breakdown...
0:18:41 > 0:18:43Start of a busy day.
0:18:43 > 0:18:46..where the A1 meets the M25.
0:18:46 > 0:18:49We're going to the A1 slip road
0:18:49 > 0:18:52going on from Bignell's Corner.
0:18:52 > 0:18:54We've got a broken-down vehicle.
0:18:54 > 0:18:56Police are fending off behind.
0:18:56 > 0:18:58We have been asked to assist them.
0:18:58 > 0:19:01The early-morning rush hour is about to start,
0:19:01 > 0:19:03so it has the potential to cause chaos.
0:19:03 > 0:19:07Morning. Have you got an ETA for your unit?
0:19:07 > 0:19:10My colleague called up a short time ago.
0:19:10 > 0:19:12Sierra Echo 52 on the hailing channel.
0:19:12 > 0:19:15We're at Bignell's Corner. We should be with you in about two minutes.
0:19:15 > 0:19:17As they arrive at the junction, though...
0:19:17 > 0:19:19INDISTINCT RADIO CHATTER
0:19:19 > 0:19:23..Carl and Richard discover it isn't just one breakdown, but two.
0:19:27 > 0:19:28That's the first, a van.
0:19:28 > 0:19:30- We got his tow hook set up.- Right.
0:19:30 > 0:19:32This is the one that was in lane three
0:19:32 > 0:19:33that's just pulled over to the side.
0:19:33 > 0:19:36OK, we're going to get somebody else.
0:19:36 > 0:19:39If you guys can't, we'll have to call immediate recovery but...
0:19:39 > 0:19:42OK. We've got another patrol. We'll ask for another patrol to come down.
0:19:42 > 0:19:45- Okey dokey.- I'll check with Carl. Is there another one coming down?
0:19:45 > 0:19:48- Cos we've got two vehicles here. - Yeah.- This is the one at lane three.
0:19:48 > 0:19:51- Do want me to ask them to keep running?- Yeah, please.
0:19:51 > 0:19:54It seems the transit van came a stop first,
0:19:54 > 0:19:57and while the police were blocking off the carriageway to deal with it,
0:19:57 > 0:20:00a taxi broke down in the same spot.
0:20:02 > 0:20:04Sir, can you just stand away from there? Thank you.
0:20:04 > 0:20:06Can you come and stand behind the barrier for me
0:20:06 > 0:20:09because you're in a place of safety there?
0:20:09 > 0:20:11The taxi driver was heading for the M25
0:20:11 > 0:20:14when his clutch suddenly stopped working.
0:20:14 > 0:20:17I was going with the customers to London,
0:20:17 > 0:20:20to one of the embassies in London,
0:20:20 > 0:20:22and then from there to London Heathrow.
0:20:22 > 0:20:25So, that's not a very good day.
0:20:25 > 0:20:27No clutch, no gearbox.
0:20:27 > 0:20:30So I can't go anywhere now.
0:20:30 > 0:20:33I'm not going to earn money.
0:20:33 > 0:20:35And just wait for recovery.
0:20:35 > 0:20:37So it's not a very good day.
0:20:37 > 0:20:41The first step is for Carl and Richard to tow the taxi
0:20:41 > 0:20:42to a safer place.
0:20:42 > 0:20:44Are the keys in the car?
0:20:44 > 0:20:46Can I have the key, please?
0:20:46 > 0:20:50Thank you. I'll find the nearest safest location, if it's a lay-by...
0:20:50 > 0:20:53- I'll go with you wherever you're going.- OK.
0:20:59 > 0:21:02We can pull anything up to an HGV,
0:21:02 > 0:21:06so we pretty much can clear most things nowadays, in all fairness.
0:21:07 > 0:21:11It's not long before Carl finds a lay-by in which to pull over,
0:21:11 > 0:21:13but it's also ankle-deep in water.
0:21:15 > 0:21:16Not the best place to stop.
0:21:16 > 0:21:19No, I know. It's in the water, isn't it?
0:21:20 > 0:21:24- Dearie me, it's flooded. - Can you go down behind that...?
0:21:24 > 0:21:28I don't think there's enough room, Richard.
0:21:28 > 0:21:32My new polished shoes now look not so polished.
0:21:32 > 0:21:33- Thanks, Carl.- That's all right!
0:21:35 > 0:21:38Dave, the passenger in the taxi,
0:21:38 > 0:21:40has an appointment at he South African embassy,
0:21:40 > 0:21:44so he's desperate to get to London as quickly as possible.
0:21:44 > 0:21:48I was just going to the African embassy to submit a visa application
0:21:48 > 0:21:51and then flying back to Johannesburg.
0:21:51 > 0:21:54I only flew back from Johannesburg yesterday just purely for this,
0:21:54 > 0:21:57so it's not a very good day.
0:21:57 > 0:22:02Carl and Richard do their best to help find them taxis
0:22:02 > 0:22:05but, at this time of the morning, it's proving difficult.
0:22:05 > 0:22:09This gentleman has broken down between South Mimms and Borehamwood.
0:22:09 > 0:22:12You haven't got any cars at the moment?
0:22:12 > 0:22:16OK. I'll get my gentleman to try and find somebody else.
0:22:16 > 0:22:18Cheers, bye. He hasn't got any cars.
0:22:18 > 0:22:22Eventually, duty calls, and Richard and Carl need to head off.
0:22:22 > 0:22:25I suggest you stay out of the vehicle
0:22:25 > 0:22:27rather than in it round here at the moment.
0:22:27 > 0:22:30The further away from the motorway, the better.
0:22:30 > 0:22:32OK then, sir. Good luck.
0:22:32 > 0:22:35I hope you get your visa sorted out.
0:22:39 > 0:22:43The danger on that closure was that it was quite near to the entry slip.
0:22:43 > 0:22:48Cars were coming quite fast down the slip road to join the motorway.
0:22:48 > 0:22:51It wasn't giving them much time to move across.
0:22:51 > 0:22:53It was a busy scene.
0:22:53 > 0:22:56I mean, to get two broken-down vehicles
0:22:56 > 0:22:59in one closure was a tad unusual.
0:22:59 > 0:23:03But that car was so close to the marginal strip, it was...
0:23:04 > 0:23:08I could feel the cars going past as we were being towed.
0:23:08 > 0:23:11The A1 is getting back to normal now but
0:23:11 > 0:23:15as traffic often builds on one of its busiest stretches,
0:23:15 > 0:23:18it won't be long before Richard and Carl are needed again.
0:23:21 > 0:23:24Nearly five hours' drive up the road in Newcastle,
0:23:24 > 0:23:28PC Alan Keenleyside's routine stop of a motorist for having no MOT
0:23:28 > 0:23:31has turned into something more serious.
0:23:37 > 0:23:41Drugs have been found in the cab of the van and the motorist
0:23:41 > 0:23:46is suspected of driving while under the influence of cannabis.
0:23:46 > 0:23:50That was found in the rubbish bag with the bottles and things.
0:23:50 > 0:23:53OK. What's the craic with that?
0:23:53 > 0:23:55I'll tell you now. I've not been smoking today, right.
0:23:55 > 0:23:57- Right, OK.- That's mine, OK.
0:23:57 > 0:23:59Right. No...
0:23:59 > 0:24:02Not exactly the crime of the century, having that.
0:24:02 > 0:24:04All right. Certainly a personal amount. We'll deal with that. OK.
0:24:06 > 0:24:10Meanwhile, the result of a roadside drugs test which Alan carried out
0:24:10 > 0:24:11eight minutes ago...
0:24:11 > 0:24:14We've waited the requisite amount of time.
0:24:14 > 0:24:16..has proved positive.
0:24:17 > 0:24:20So, you've got two lines for cannabis.
0:24:20 > 0:24:23So, the preliminary drug test has tested positive for a specified drug
0:24:23 > 0:24:27in your system. Therefore, I am arresting you
0:24:27 > 0:24:31and taking you to Forth Banks police station.
0:24:31 > 0:24:33Is there anything you want to say to that?
0:24:36 > 0:24:40The new drug-driving laws cover eight illegal substances,
0:24:40 > 0:24:42including cannabis and cocaine.
0:24:42 > 0:24:44- PHONE RINGS - There it is.
0:24:44 > 0:24:46Do you want to speak to your dad?
0:24:46 > 0:24:49But 11 prescription drugs, like morphine,
0:24:49 > 0:24:51are also on the danger list.
0:24:51 > 0:24:54A good little stop. Just from having no MOT,
0:24:54 > 0:24:55we've recovered some drugs.
0:24:55 > 0:24:58He's provided a specimen and there's one on the way to custody.
0:24:58 > 0:25:00So, we're making the road safer all the time.
0:25:00 > 0:25:03Just going to cuff you for transportation. All right?
0:25:03 > 0:25:06Alan's roadside test has shown traces of banned drugs
0:25:06 > 0:25:08in the van driver's body.
0:25:08 > 0:25:12A full blood test will now be needed to establish just how much cannabis
0:25:12 > 0:25:13is in his system.
0:25:13 > 0:25:14All right?
0:25:20 > 0:25:22It's like drink-driving now.
0:25:22 > 0:25:25So, your blood will be sent away to the labs.
0:25:25 > 0:25:30It gets examined and then we get a figure back as to how much cannabis
0:25:30 > 0:25:33is in your blood and whether that's over the prescribed limit or not.
0:25:33 > 0:25:36If it is, you'll go to court for that.
0:25:36 > 0:25:38Cannabis stays in your system a lot longer than drink.
0:25:38 > 0:25:41Do you know what I mean? Depending how much you've had,
0:25:41 > 0:25:42it can stay in for days or weeks.
0:25:44 > 0:25:45Just take a seat down there.
0:25:47 > 0:25:51At the station, a sample of blood is taken for analysis
0:25:51 > 0:25:54and the motorist's picture and fingerprints are recorded
0:25:54 > 0:25:57while Alan begins to prepare his case.
0:25:59 > 0:26:01I'm just packaging up the blood now.
0:26:01 > 0:26:04I've actually filled in a bit of the circumstances surrounding the stop
0:26:04 > 0:26:08and what's happened today. That just assists the lab.
0:26:08 > 0:26:10I'll seal it up now, I'll log the time,
0:26:10 > 0:26:14note the time on the paperwork and we'll pop that into the fridge.
0:26:14 > 0:26:17And that'll be us good to go.
0:26:17 > 0:26:20Since new laws on drug driving were passed just two years ago,
0:26:20 > 0:26:22Alan and his colleagues on the A1
0:26:22 > 0:26:25have massively stepped up the number of arrests.
0:26:26 > 0:26:29Now we've got all this technology, we're probably getting as many
0:26:29 > 0:26:31drug-driving as we are drink-driving.
0:26:31 > 0:26:35And the likely consequences of which is a disqualification,
0:26:35 > 0:26:36similar to drink-driving.
0:26:36 > 0:26:40So, if this comes back positive, over the prescribed limit,
0:26:40 > 0:26:44this gentleman will be looking for a day in court with a high likelihood
0:26:44 > 0:26:47of a disqualification for around about 12 months.
0:26:47 > 0:26:49This is going to have massive repercussions
0:26:49 > 0:26:50onto this driver's life.
0:26:50 > 0:26:53Potentially he's going to lose his job,
0:26:53 > 0:26:55he's going to lose the ability to drive legally,
0:26:55 > 0:26:58and, yeah. That joint last night to celebrate his birthday,
0:26:58 > 0:27:01it's all gone catastrophically wrong for this chap.
0:27:04 > 0:27:08For Alan, what started out as a routine stop has turned out to be
0:27:08 > 0:27:13anything but. No A1 patrol can be taken for granted.
0:27:13 > 0:27:16I think it's really important to emphasise that when we,
0:27:16 > 0:27:19as police officers, certainly working the A1,
0:27:19 > 0:27:23you never know what you're going to get. You just don't know.
0:27:23 > 0:27:26You've got to go in with your guard up, high-risk.
0:27:26 > 0:27:29You've got cars moving around you on the A1.
0:27:29 > 0:27:32On that occasion, open the door, two lads in the van.
0:27:33 > 0:27:35Just that scent of cannabis.
0:27:35 > 0:27:37You just get that little whiff.
0:27:37 > 0:27:38The alarm bells go.
0:27:38 > 0:27:42A good result. Just goes to show somebody who doesn't appear to be
0:27:42 > 0:27:44really doing anything wrong
0:27:44 > 0:27:46is actually a real danger on the roads this morning.
0:27:46 > 0:27:49We've been able to minimise that risk.
0:27:49 > 0:27:50So really, really happy with that.
0:27:55 > 0:27:58Blood tests on the motorist found to be driving while under the influence
0:27:58 > 0:28:03of cannabis came back positive and he's still awaiting trial.
0:28:03 > 0:28:06And, after being caught speeding in roadworks,
0:28:06 > 0:28:09Liam has since completed his speed-awareness course.