0:00:02 > 0:00:04The A1, Britain's longest road.
0:00:05 > 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 > 0:00:16Connecting two nations and passing through 18 counties.
0:00:16 > 0:00:18It's an unrivalled highway,
0:00:18 > 0:00:21used by hundreds of thousands of vehicles every day.
0:00:21 > 0:00:24We're going southbound, down the A1,
0:00:24 > 0:00:26on the northbound carriageway.
0:00:27 > 0:00:30But not all journeys go to plan.
0:00:32 > 0:00:34I thought, am I going to lose my life?
0:00:34 > 0:00:38Cars are coming close. It is the dangerous place to be.
0:00:38 > 0:00:41Lives can hang in the balance.
0:00:41 > 0:00:43The rear end of that vehicle, it's unrecognisable.
0:00:43 > 0:00:45This 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.
0:00:53 > 0:00:55POLICE SIREN
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... We don't know 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 > 0:01:13- Get out.- ..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, will start to return to normal.
0:01:25 > 0:01:26Coming up...
0:01:27 > 0:01:28..traffic police in Scotland...
0:01:28 > 0:01:31- Goodness. - ..deal with a shocking incident.
0:01:31 > 0:01:34This is actually the bodywork of the car.
0:01:34 > 0:01:38A collision near Newcastle puts traffic officers' lives at risk.
0:01:38 > 0:01:40Cars are coming close.
0:01:40 > 0:01:41It is the dangerous place to be.
0:01:41 > 0:01:44And it's doughnuts at dawn
0:01:44 > 0:01:48as racers refuel at one of the A1's biggest diners.
0:01:48 > 0:01:51Got to eat, boys. I want to save up for one of these cars!
0:01:57 > 0:01:59Spanning nearly 400 miles,
0:01:59 > 0:02:04the A1 passes by some of Britain's most recognisable landmarks.
0:02:04 > 0:02:07From Ferrybridge Power Station in West Yorkshire,
0:02:07 > 0:02:09to the bustling metropolis of Newcastle.
0:02:12 > 0:02:13But as the road enters Scotland,
0:02:13 > 0:02:16it cuts through much more barren landscapes,
0:02:16 > 0:02:19where the hills of the Borders meet the wild North Sea.
0:02:23 > 0:02:25Patrolling this isolated section of the road
0:02:25 > 0:02:29near the border with England are PCs Stuart Logan and Davey Johnson.
0:02:33 > 0:02:37This area's rugged beauty is certainly captivating,
0:02:37 > 0:02:41even for those who spend countless hours driving through it.
0:02:41 > 0:02:42Very picturesque down here, too.
0:02:42 > 0:02:46- It is.- The sea would be a touch chilly, though.
0:02:46 > 0:02:47But it's very nice to look at.
0:02:50 > 0:02:55As night falls, Stuart and Davey's first emergency call comes in.
0:02:59 > 0:03:01POLICE SIREN
0:03:02 > 0:03:07When vehicles career off the road, there's a real threat to life.
0:03:07 > 0:03:10People can be trapped inside with serious injuries.
0:03:13 > 0:03:16And Stuart and Davey fear the car could cause more havoc.
0:03:18 > 0:03:22Our concern will be that a secondary collision could occur.
0:03:22 > 0:03:24People are not anticipating
0:03:24 > 0:03:27a stricken car lying in the middle of a road.
0:03:27 > 0:03:31So it's really imperative that you get there quickly
0:03:31 > 0:03:34in order to make the scene as safe as we can.
0:03:38 > 0:03:41The accident is just off the A1, along a winding,
0:03:41 > 0:03:44unlit section of a rural B-road.
0:03:49 > 0:03:53As they head round the bend, they're greeted by a shocking sight.
0:03:56 > 0:03:57Oh, goodness.
0:04:02 > 0:04:05Somehow, the car has ended up on its side,
0:04:05 > 0:04:06right in the middle of the road.
0:04:09 > 0:04:13Miraculously, the driver has walked away with minor injuries
0:04:13 > 0:04:15and is being treated by paramedics.
0:04:15 > 0:04:17Are you OK? Are you sore?
0:04:17 > 0:04:20- No, I'm not sore, just shaken. - OK, no problem.
0:04:22 > 0:04:24To prevent another accident,
0:04:24 > 0:04:27Stuart and Davey now need to stop all traffic at the scene.
0:04:29 > 0:04:30Stuart's pretty sure he knows
0:04:30 > 0:04:33how the car's ended up in such a bizarre position.
0:04:38 > 0:04:40Looking at the scene here, it's clear what's happened -
0:04:40 > 0:04:43that the driver's come round this bend
0:04:43 > 0:04:45that we've just come round here,
0:04:45 > 0:04:49and then obviously then subsequently made contact with the shrubbery
0:04:49 > 0:04:50and the wire fencing.
0:04:50 > 0:04:54And it's obviously just hit the vehicle at an absolute sweet spot,
0:04:54 > 0:04:56which has caused it to overturn.
0:04:57 > 0:04:59The car's a total write-off,
0:04:59 > 0:05:03but Stuart's convinced that it saved the driver's life.
0:05:05 > 0:05:07While the driver's taken away for treatment,
0:05:07 > 0:05:12Stuart must now figure out how to remove the rolled-over car
0:05:12 > 0:05:14and get the road reopened.
0:05:19 > 0:05:22Every year, there are over 2,000 separate accidents
0:05:22 > 0:05:25along the A1 between London and Edinburgh.
0:05:28 > 0:05:33One in every seven takes place along a short stretch near Newcastle.
0:05:38 > 0:05:42Today, traffic officers Peter Senior and Scott Wilson...
0:05:42 > 0:05:46- OK, mate?- Yeah.- ..will patrol a part of this corridor of collisions.
0:05:49 > 0:05:51Charlie, Lima 41, go ahead, over.
0:05:51 > 0:05:53Ironically, an area
0:05:53 > 0:05:57that's watched over by the A1's very own guardian angel.
0:05:57 > 0:05:59There's Rusty Rita, Peter.
0:05:59 > 0:06:01Aye, Rusty Rita, Angel of the North.
0:06:05 > 0:06:09Our role is basically keeping the traffic moving, erm,
0:06:09 > 0:06:13and dealing with absolutely anything that can happen out on the road.
0:06:13 > 0:06:17People keep asking, "What's a typical day?"
0:06:17 > 0:06:19It's a difficult question to answer, because you just never know
0:06:19 > 0:06:22what you're going to be dealing with.
0:06:23 > 0:06:26We've got something in the opposite carriageway.
0:06:27 > 0:06:30The pair quickly head towards the scene.
0:06:32 > 0:06:35It appears this troublesome section of the A1
0:06:35 > 0:06:37has claimed its latest victim.
0:06:41 > 0:06:43Hello. Are you all right?
0:06:44 > 0:06:46- Have you had a little bump, have you?- Yeah.
0:06:46 > 0:06:50- Have you exchanged your details with the other driver? - Yeah, these are his details here.
0:06:50 > 0:06:56- Right.- It's just... You know when you just don't know what to do?- Yeah.
0:06:56 > 0:06:58Nicole Wall's been left badly shaken
0:06:58 > 0:07:01after a near miss caused her to hit the kerb.
0:07:02 > 0:07:05- You're not injured at all? - No, no.- Is the car badly damaged?
0:07:05 > 0:07:10Um, I can't drive, because both those wheels are knackered.
0:07:10 > 0:07:14We'll just hang on, while you make sure you get something sorted, OK?
0:07:14 > 0:07:16With her boyfriend on the way,
0:07:16 > 0:07:19Peter knows there's a limit to what he can do.
0:07:19 > 0:07:20Well, we're not mechanics.
0:07:20 > 0:07:24I mean, as drivers, yes, we do know how to change a wheel,
0:07:24 > 0:07:27but, you know, it's out of our role to do that.
0:07:29 > 0:07:33For Nicole, today's routine journey along the A1 has ended
0:07:33 > 0:07:36with a seriously scary experience.
0:07:40 > 0:07:44So Pete's role is to offer a comforting shoulder to cry on.
0:07:44 > 0:07:47What I'll do, I'll pass your details to our control room,
0:07:47 > 0:07:49they might give you a ring in a while,
0:07:49 > 0:07:51to make sure you're all right and you're getting sorted.
0:07:51 > 0:07:53- Thank you.- Is there any other concerns before we leave you?
0:07:53 > 0:07:55- No...- You're all right now, are you?
0:07:55 > 0:07:57- Yeah, I'm better now, yeah.- OK.
0:07:57 > 0:07:59Take care, OK?
0:08:07 > 0:08:10I think she was just pleased to see somebody
0:08:10 > 0:08:12who could give her a bit of advice and reassurance.
0:08:12 > 0:08:15You know, I think it helped put her at comfort a bit.
0:08:16 > 0:08:18For Peter and Scott,
0:08:18 > 0:08:22it's just the start of what promises to be a long and busy shift on this
0:08:22 > 0:08:25dangerous and anything-but-angelic stretch of road.
0:08:27 > 0:08:31With hundreds of thousands of vehicles using the A1 every day,
0:08:31 > 0:08:35there are literally millions of motorists' mouths to feed.
0:08:37 > 0:08:40But refreshments are never too far away...
0:08:42 > 0:08:46..at places such as the A1's Stadium Diner near Grantham,
0:08:46 > 0:08:49which attracts more than 200 truckers a day.
0:08:49 > 0:08:52They flock there for home-made classics,
0:08:52 > 0:08:55generous portions and service with a smile.
0:08:55 > 0:08:56Thanks for that.
0:08:57 > 0:08:59Margaret and Albert White
0:08:59 > 0:09:02have made their fortune keeping A1 truckers trucking.
0:09:02 > 0:09:04Yeah, we have steak pie, mince and onion pie,
0:09:04 > 0:09:07chicken and mushroom, cottage pie, chilli, lasagne.
0:09:09 > 0:09:11And with her personally designed menu,
0:09:11 > 0:09:13it's Margaret's way or the highway.
0:09:13 > 0:09:15They're not allowed to do anything different.
0:09:15 > 0:09:18If they do anything different, they get told off, don't you, Mary?
0:09:18 > 0:09:22To ensure her loyal customers don't decide to drive on by,
0:09:22 > 0:09:25Margaret knows standards have to be kept high.
0:09:28 > 0:09:31Oh, no. They're not cooked enough. Nowhere near.
0:09:32 > 0:09:35Nicola. They want putting back on, they're as hard as rock.
0:09:35 > 0:09:36- Oh...- Can't saute them.
0:09:38 > 0:09:41But the diner is just one part of their empire.
0:09:42 > 0:09:45With parking space for 200-300 lorries,
0:09:45 > 0:09:47and a massive refilling station,
0:09:47 > 0:09:51Albert's gone from a humble trucker to a successful businessman.
0:09:52 > 0:09:55The business is growing from when we first took the truck stop.
0:09:55 > 0:09:59We was probably doing 20, 30 lorries a night, parking up.
0:09:59 > 0:10:02We're now to 200-plus a night.
0:10:02 > 0:10:04We're just busier and busier.
0:10:06 > 0:10:10I think what they say is from a little acorn grows an oak tree,
0:10:10 > 0:10:11or something like that.
0:10:11 > 0:10:15So this is our oak tree now, I think. That's... Yeah.
0:10:17 > 0:10:18At 68,
0:10:18 > 0:10:21Albert's still looking for ways to pull in the pounds
0:10:21 > 0:10:22from the nearby A1.
0:10:24 > 0:10:26He's recently shelled out over 120 grand
0:10:26 > 0:10:28on a state-of-the-art truck wash.
0:10:31 > 0:10:34We've always wanted one of these. I've always wanted one.
0:10:34 > 0:10:38So, er, it's quite nice to say I've got as good a truck wash
0:10:38 > 0:10:40as anybody else has got.
0:10:40 > 0:10:43And, yes, it's pleasing to see it working.
0:10:44 > 0:10:45Yeah.
0:10:45 > 0:10:48It's even more pleasing when there's three lorries behind it
0:10:48 > 0:10:50waiting to be washed, but we can't have everything.
0:10:50 > 0:10:52Not this weather.
0:10:59 > 0:11:02More than 230 miles north in the Scottish Borders,
0:11:02 > 0:11:04PCs Stuart Logan and Davey Johnson
0:11:04 > 0:11:09are still dealing with an unusual crash just off the A1.
0:11:10 > 0:11:12Aye, I mean, it's a bit of a wallop.
0:11:14 > 0:11:16This is actually the bodywork of the car
0:11:16 > 0:11:18that's skidded along the road.
0:11:18 > 0:11:21- Probably be the door handle and the mirror.- Yeah.
0:11:21 > 0:11:26The driver's lost control on a bend and spun the car onto its side.
0:11:26 > 0:11:30I can only assume that she's climbed out through this open window,
0:11:30 > 0:11:34erm, because the door -
0:11:34 > 0:11:37it would be quite a significant weight to push that door up
0:11:37 > 0:11:38to get out.
0:11:40 > 0:11:44Miraculously, she's escaped with minor injuries.
0:11:44 > 0:11:46With the pick-up truck now here,
0:11:46 > 0:11:50Stuart and Davey can move the car off the road.
0:11:51 > 0:11:54You attach the chains to the top side of it,
0:11:54 > 0:11:56pull it down onto its wheels,
0:11:56 > 0:11:59and then it'll be winched onto the back of the truck.
0:11:59 > 0:12:02It took a dramatic chain of events for the car
0:12:02 > 0:12:04to end up in this position.
0:12:05 > 0:12:09Getting it back on four wheels isn't for the faint-hearted, either.
0:12:19 > 0:12:21It's only now that Stuart and Davey
0:12:21 > 0:12:24can see the full impact the car's absorbed.
0:12:26 > 0:12:29You can see the fuel rim's completely sheared.
0:12:34 > 0:12:37And Stuart knows the driver's lucky to be alive.
0:12:39 > 0:12:42It's down to luck whether another vehicle
0:12:42 > 0:12:44came round the bend, or didn't,
0:12:44 > 0:12:47and subsequently caused a secondary collision.
0:12:47 > 0:12:51But I think this just comes as a stark reminder to us all
0:12:51 > 0:12:55that you are very, very vulnerable on the roads.
0:12:59 > 0:13:02For the officers, it's back to the A1.
0:13:02 > 0:13:06Davey's been patrolling this patch for over two decades,
0:13:06 > 0:13:07and over the years,
0:13:07 > 0:13:11he's seen a common theme emerge when it comes to crashes.
0:13:12 > 0:13:16Most of the accidents I've attended haven't been down to speed,
0:13:16 > 0:13:18it's been down to driver error.
0:13:18 > 0:13:22At this time of year, you know, the roads are really slippery,
0:13:22 > 0:13:24and then you come to, er, say...
0:13:24 > 0:13:26you know, a tight bend on a country road
0:13:26 > 0:13:30and you go to turn on it and the road surface is slippy,
0:13:30 > 0:13:32and rather than go round a corner,
0:13:32 > 0:13:35you just end up going straight on, as perhaps what happened tonight.
0:13:38 > 0:13:42Thankfully, this remote stretch of the A1 in the Borders
0:13:42 > 0:13:44remains quiet throughout the rest of their shift.
0:13:46 > 0:13:49But as Stuart heads back to the station,
0:13:49 > 0:13:51he spots something he can't ignore.
0:13:52 > 0:13:54I've just noticed that there's, er,
0:13:54 > 0:13:57there's an abnormal load escort
0:13:57 > 0:13:59on the opposing carriageway on the A1
0:13:59 > 0:14:04and I heard on the radio that they've suffered a blow-out.
0:14:06 > 0:14:08It's 11pm -
0:14:08 > 0:14:11and Stuart is unlikely to be heading home any time soon.
0:14:16 > 0:14:20Around 70 miles south, on the outskirts of Newcastle,
0:14:20 > 0:14:22traffic officers Pete and Scott
0:14:22 > 0:14:25are on night patrol along this most troublesome section.
0:14:27 > 0:14:29Alpha, Charlie, Lima 41.
0:14:31 > 0:14:34It's rush-hour, and with traffic at its peak,
0:14:34 > 0:14:36the pair are expecting problems.
0:14:37 > 0:14:40Something stationary on the other carriageway.
0:14:40 > 0:14:42Is it an RTC or a breakdown?
0:14:42 > 0:14:44- INDISTINCT RADIO VOICE - Breakdown.- Breakdown, I think.
0:14:44 > 0:14:47Police are already on the scene,
0:14:47 > 0:14:50but Peter and Scott need to double back and take over the job.
0:14:51 > 0:14:54However, it's soon clear this simple breakdown
0:14:54 > 0:14:57is more hazardous than they first expected.
0:14:58 > 0:15:01You can see that officer, he's half on the verge,
0:15:01 > 0:15:03but half into the running lane.
0:15:03 > 0:15:06Now, that could encourage traffic to try and pass,
0:15:06 > 0:15:09so we've positioned our vehicle fully into lane one,
0:15:09 > 0:15:12where we'll take control of the traffic behind.
0:15:16 > 0:15:19With vehicles speeding around the bend at 70 mph,
0:15:19 > 0:15:23they need to make the scene safe by warning oncoming traffic.
0:15:26 > 0:15:29I've put in a 100-metre taper of cones and directional arrows -
0:15:29 > 0:15:32and already, you can see how traffic's
0:15:32 > 0:15:34now filtering out into the outer lanes.
0:15:34 > 0:15:38Scott's just put a line of cones down past the incident.
0:15:38 > 0:15:41The idea of that, it means when vehicles get past us,
0:15:41 > 0:15:43they're not likely to just try and jump back in,
0:15:43 > 0:15:45which, again, could be dangerous.
0:15:45 > 0:15:47It turns out the white car
0:15:47 > 0:15:50has actually been involved in an accident,
0:15:50 > 0:15:53leaving driver Misha Patterson stranded for an hour.
0:15:56 > 0:15:58The A1 was at a standstill.
0:15:58 > 0:16:01I was stationary, cos there was someone in front
0:16:01 > 0:16:04trying to get in, on to the A1, and she just smashed in the back.
0:16:06 > 0:16:08A bit shook up.
0:16:08 > 0:16:10Have you got recovery on the way?
0:16:10 > 0:16:11How long are they going to be?
0:16:14 > 0:16:16Right. What we'll do is... It's a bit dangerous.
0:16:16 > 0:16:19What we'll probably do is we'll get recovery sorted for you,
0:16:19 > 0:16:22with it being so close to the live running lane.
0:16:22 > 0:16:24If they come before then, that's fair enough,
0:16:24 > 0:16:27but we'll just get the ball rolling. All right?
0:16:29 > 0:16:31With traffic hurtling past the scene,
0:16:31 > 0:16:35Scott knows that the risk of a second crash is high.
0:16:36 > 0:16:40Some people might not see that and then come and maybe clip it,
0:16:40 > 0:16:42or panic when they do see it and then swerve out.
0:16:42 > 0:16:44It is... It is a safety risk.
0:16:47 > 0:16:50The cordon adds a full element, that they won't see anything.
0:16:50 > 0:16:53Even when we came down the slip, and we knew where it was,
0:16:53 > 0:16:55we couldn't see it until we were right on it.
0:16:56 > 0:16:58Even with a safety cordon in place,
0:16:58 > 0:17:02approaching vehicles are struggling to move out of the lane in time.
0:17:02 > 0:17:06Cars are coming close and they're going past quite quick, as well,
0:17:06 > 0:17:08so it is the dangerous place to be.
0:17:11 > 0:17:14And all it takes is for one driver to misjudge the situation
0:17:14 > 0:17:16to cause further chaos.
0:17:21 > 0:17:25I mean, Peter's extended our taper, but, as you can still see,
0:17:25 > 0:17:29cars are still coming up on to our taper of cones and not seeing it.
0:17:33 > 0:17:36The result, another minor bump to deal with -
0:17:36 > 0:17:38and the drivers aren't happy.
0:17:41 > 0:17:44Because nothing can be planned out because it's not planned works,
0:17:44 > 0:17:46there's been another crash in front of our closure.
0:17:46 > 0:17:50There's adequate signage and cones out to filter traffic out...
0:17:50 > 0:17:52With his warning lights flashing
0:17:52 > 0:17:54and the cordon as long as he can make it,
0:17:54 > 0:17:57Peter has done everything he possibly can.
0:17:57 > 0:18:00It appears this van's been travelling down
0:18:00 > 0:18:03on the southbound carriageway towards our closure.
0:18:03 > 0:18:05Just prior to the closure,
0:18:05 > 0:18:07the van slowed down, and for whatever reason,
0:18:07 > 0:18:10the car behind hasn't, and it's bumped the back of the van.
0:18:10 > 0:18:13So it's a minor collision.
0:18:13 > 0:18:17Nobody's injured. The drivers will just have to exchange details now.
0:18:19 > 0:18:23Further up the road, Misha's car is finally being picked up -
0:18:23 > 0:18:25and she's left cursing her luck.
0:18:26 > 0:18:28You can't make some days up, can you?
0:18:40 > 0:18:43As awful as it sounds, it's only a piece of metal.
0:18:43 > 0:18:47At least that can be fixed. As long as you're all right, you know what I mean?
0:18:48 > 0:18:51For Peter and Scott, a seemingly simple job
0:18:51 > 0:18:54has turned into something much more complicated.
0:19:01 > 0:19:03The driver of the Porsche was the one who was upset,
0:19:03 > 0:19:07even though he was the one who drove straight into the back of the van.
0:19:07 > 0:19:12I mean, what he was trying to say is, why didn't we take our closure
0:19:12 > 0:19:14right back to the prior roundabout,
0:19:14 > 0:19:17which was approximately a quarter of a mile away?
0:19:17 > 0:19:21So I did explain to him that due to the size of our vehicle,
0:19:21 > 0:19:26we don't carry enough equipment to put a closure on going so far back.
0:19:27 > 0:19:29Sometimes, credit's hard to come by.
0:19:29 > 0:19:34At least for Peter and Scott, they're ready to grab a bite to eat
0:19:34 > 0:19:36at the end of what's been a hectic shift.
0:19:38 > 0:19:41And more than 150 miles south near Grantham,
0:19:41 > 0:19:44feeding many of the thousands of travellers and truckers
0:19:44 > 0:19:46who use the road every day
0:19:46 > 0:19:48is the A1 Stadium Diner.
0:19:56 > 0:20:00It's 6.30 in the morning and the catering team are clocking on for
0:20:00 > 0:20:01another busy breakfast shift.
0:20:03 > 0:20:05- Morning.- Morning.
0:20:06 > 0:20:09But along with the usual lumbering juggernauts,
0:20:09 > 0:20:13owner Albert's getting his forecourt ready for some special guests with a
0:20:13 > 0:20:15taste for speed.
0:20:16 > 0:20:20About ten Lamborghinis coming up for breakfast.
0:20:20 > 0:20:22So I'm just putting the signs there
0:20:22 > 0:20:24so they can park in front of the caff.
0:20:25 > 0:20:29I think they're touring Lincolnshire today and then I believe they're
0:20:29 > 0:20:33going to an airfield to do a bit of driving around bollards
0:20:33 > 0:20:35and everything like that.
0:20:37 > 0:20:41I think I'm a bit too old to get in and out of a Lamborghini, nowadays.
0:20:41 > 0:20:44They're a younger man's car, or probably somebody that's a lot
0:20:44 > 0:20:47slimmer than me, anyway, to get in and out of.
0:20:49 > 0:20:53Albert's keen to give these supercar drivers a speedy service.
0:20:53 > 0:20:56- Morning, girls.- Morning.
0:20:56 > 0:20:57How are we doing?
0:20:58 > 0:21:01So it's all hands to the pump - or, in Emma's case,
0:21:01 > 0:21:02the industrial tin opener.
0:21:04 > 0:21:07I'm just preparing the tomatoes.
0:21:07 > 0:21:09We do this every day.
0:21:09 > 0:21:12We have to do eight tomatoes,
0:21:12 > 0:21:14eight beans and we normally do a few extra beans,
0:21:14 > 0:21:17because we get through them quite a lot in the afternoon.
0:21:17 > 0:21:19You'd be surprised how much we get through.
0:21:19 > 0:21:23Most of these will be gone, at latest, tomorrow morning.
0:21:23 > 0:21:26So, again, one of us will be out here doing it again.
0:21:29 > 0:21:31While Emma's up to her elbows in tomatoes...
0:21:33 > 0:21:36..the hungry petrol heads are pulling in for their pit stop.
0:21:38 > 0:21:42With almost £2 million worth of Huracans and Aventadors
0:21:42 > 0:21:45cruising onto the forecourt, it's quite a sight for Albert.
0:21:48 > 0:21:50First time we've had ten Lamborghinis.
0:21:50 > 0:21:51Yeah.
0:21:51 > 0:21:55Although the lorry drivers probably won't be too happy
0:21:55 > 0:21:57if they have to queue up for their breakfast!
0:21:58 > 0:22:01Inside, the griddle's already stacked.
0:22:02 > 0:22:03Come on in, lads.
0:22:03 > 0:22:05And, dressed in her Sunday best,
0:22:05 > 0:22:09Margaret's on hand to make sure her VIP customers get a proper feed.
0:22:11 > 0:22:13But with a dizzying array of meals on offer,
0:22:13 > 0:22:15the drivers seem spoilt for choice.
0:22:17 > 0:22:20You've got to eat, boys, because I want to save up
0:22:20 > 0:22:24for one of these cars. So you have to spend your money.
0:22:24 > 0:22:25After the hard sell,
0:22:25 > 0:22:28these trucker-sized breakfasts are soon flying out.
0:22:30 > 0:22:33But Margaret's more interested in wheels than meals.
0:22:33 > 0:22:37I've had a few sports cars in my day, but nothing like this.
0:22:37 > 0:22:38Wow.
0:22:38 > 0:22:41I think we could still drive one of these, couldn't we, Margaret?
0:22:41 > 0:22:42I think so, yeah.
0:22:42 > 0:22:45One of the guys said, "You can, you're never too old."
0:22:45 > 0:22:48- Get a cushion.- Yeah.
0:22:48 > 0:22:51Inside, the Lambo-lovers can't get enough of the food.
0:22:52 > 0:22:55But even with her regulars having to wait their turn,
0:22:55 > 0:22:58Margaret's not budging from her mantra.
0:22:58 > 0:23:01We don't serve fast food, we serve good food as fast as we can.
0:23:02 > 0:23:04That's my motto.
0:23:08 > 0:23:11The breakfasts are really good today and hopefully it'll settle
0:23:11 > 0:23:14everybody's stomach before we start driving very quickly.
0:23:14 > 0:23:16I think it's great, but it might actually reappear
0:23:16 > 0:23:18when we get on the runway!
0:23:20 > 0:23:23They've had their full English, and, as they leave,
0:23:23 > 0:23:25there's just room for a doughnut.
0:23:34 > 0:23:37For Margaret, it's been the perfect pit stop.
0:23:37 > 0:23:39PLATE SMASHES
0:23:39 > 0:23:42- Well, almost. - That's your bonus gone, girl.
0:23:45 > 0:23:49These Lambos will soon be thundering around at some ridiculous speeds.
0:23:51 > 0:23:52But up in Scotland,
0:23:52 > 0:23:56another vehicle with massive horsepower isn't going anywhere.
0:24:00 > 0:24:03- Hello, hello.- How are you doing, all right?- Not bad, thank you.
0:24:03 > 0:24:07Traffic officer PC Stuart Logan should have clocked off by now, but
0:24:07 > 0:24:11faced with a stranded truck carrying a 35-tonne wind turbine part,
0:24:11 > 0:24:13he is now heading for a late one.
0:24:13 > 0:24:15Which one is it that's blown out?
0:24:15 > 0:24:18- The back inner one.- Oh, inside one there. I see that. Yeah.
0:24:18 > 0:24:20It's that one that's gone.
0:24:20 > 0:24:23You can see how much an effect it's having on this outer tyre,
0:24:23 > 0:24:25because the tyre on the inside was blown out,
0:24:25 > 0:24:31so now all the weight is now going through this one outer tyre.
0:24:31 > 0:24:35The transporter was halfway through a 70-mile trip from Grangemouth to
0:24:35 > 0:24:38Berwick when driver Chris Leonard realised he had a problem.
0:24:39 > 0:24:43Well, I was driving up there and it were a right bang.
0:24:43 > 0:24:46You can normally tell if it's you.
0:24:46 > 0:24:48It goes like a gunshot going off.
0:24:49 > 0:24:53So, yeah, could've done without this.
0:24:55 > 0:24:59On this section of the A1, there's no hard shoulder.
0:25:00 > 0:25:02Even though the load is well lit,
0:25:02 > 0:25:06Stuart wants to shed more light onto the scene to divert vehicles around
0:25:06 > 0:25:07the stricken lorry.
0:25:12 > 0:25:14It's definitely not a job for the faint-hearted.
0:25:19 > 0:25:23That's a perfect example of drivers just simply not looking where
0:25:23 > 0:25:29they're going. You can see how blatantly obvious this is here.
0:25:29 > 0:25:34And, yet, look at how close these cars come before they even bother
0:25:34 > 0:25:35moving out in the outside lane.
0:25:36 > 0:25:39Get out!
0:25:39 > 0:25:43But unfortunately, this is the risks that we face in dealing with
0:25:43 > 0:25:46incidents on the fast road network.
0:25:47 > 0:25:50Thankfully, Stewart will soon be out of harm's way.
0:25:53 > 0:25:57The recovery team is on scene and Stuart's doing everything he can to
0:25:57 > 0:26:00make this a quick tyre change.
0:26:00 > 0:26:02I'm just giving him a hand so he can see what he's doing.
0:26:02 > 0:26:05It's obviously pretty dark under there.
0:26:05 > 0:26:09He needs to see, make sure the jack's lined up properly.
0:26:09 > 0:26:1230 tonnes would be the complete weight of it,
0:26:12 > 0:26:14so it's a fair old weight.
0:26:14 > 0:26:15More than what your average trolley jack
0:26:15 > 0:26:17would be able to manage, anyway.
0:26:18 > 0:26:22Incredibly, this tiny hydraulic jack is soon supporting the back-end of
0:26:22 > 0:26:24the load.
0:26:24 > 0:26:26Then it's on with the heavyweight tyre swap.
0:26:28 > 0:26:32A pneumatic wrench makes quick work of the wheel nuts,
0:26:32 > 0:26:35but the hardest job of all is getting the new tyre on and,
0:26:35 > 0:26:37for this, only two crowbars will do.
0:26:40 > 0:26:43He's nearly there, I think. It's a tough old beast, eh?
0:26:43 > 0:26:46There's just no give in it. That's the problem, eh?
0:26:49 > 0:26:50There we are. That's it on.
0:26:54 > 0:26:57The whole thing's taken just over ten minutes and soon
0:26:57 > 0:26:59they'll be on their way.
0:27:05 > 0:27:07I know, aye, keep safe.
0:27:10 > 0:27:15This lengthy load can now head off to become part of a 115-metre wind
0:27:15 > 0:27:18turbine, which will tower above the Berwickshire countryside.
0:27:20 > 0:27:23Well, that's it all away.
0:27:23 > 0:27:26The other officers have come back, escorted it down the road,
0:27:26 > 0:27:30so just gathered up all our equipment and we can go home.
0:27:32 > 0:27:35It's a shift that's lasted from two in the afternoon to almost two in
0:27:35 > 0:27:39the morning, and even for an A1 patrol officer,
0:27:39 > 0:27:40it's been a long day.
0:27:47 > 0:27:50Thankfully, Nicole's boyfriend came to the rescue
0:27:50 > 0:27:54and she's hoping she'll never get stranded on the A1 again.
0:27:54 > 0:27:58And Margaret's still hoping that bacon and eggs will one day
0:27:58 > 0:28:00pay for her very own sports car.