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 > 0:00:11to 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 > 0:00:22used 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.
0:00:31 > 0:00:35I thought, "I'm going to lose my life."
0:00:35 > 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 > 0:00:44The 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 > 0:00:54..there's a team of people who keep us safe from harm.
0:00:54 > 0:00:56The police...
0:00:58 > 0:00:59..response teams...
0:00:59 > 0:01:03We don't know whether they've got the road closed or we don't know what's happened.
0:01:03 > 0:01:04..and traffic officers...
0:01:06 > 0:01:07Keep going.
0:01:08 > 0:01:14- ..keeping Britain's most iconic road...- 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 to return to normal.
0:01:25 > 0:01:26Coming up...
0:01:26 > 0:01:28SIRENS WAIL
0:01:28 > 0:01:32..a countryside crash leaves a biker fighting for his life...
0:01:32 > 0:01:36You're always thinking the worst with a motorcycle accident.
0:01:36 > 0:01:38..traffic officers come face-to-face
0:01:38 > 0:01:40with a lorry driver flouting the law...
0:01:40 > 0:01:42You can't stop on the hard shoulder of a motorway.
0:01:42 > 0:01:43I'm going to break the law, then.
0:01:43 > 0:01:48..and for one motorist, a blowout sparks a culinary crisis.
0:01:48 > 0:01:49My tea's in the oven!
0:01:49 > 0:01:50Tea's in the dog!
0:01:55 > 0:01:59From busy city routes to urban motorway, and even countryside road,
0:01:59 > 0:02:01the A1 is an ever-changing landscape
0:02:01 > 0:02:04which can bring unique challenges for the people
0:02:04 > 0:02:08that work the length and breadth of this historic highway.
0:02:11 > 0:02:13A1 patrol officer PC Darren Lant's patch
0:02:13 > 0:02:15in his native Northumbria
0:02:15 > 0:02:19covers more than 70 diverse miles of the road.
0:02:22 > 0:02:25He's heading to one of its most troublesome sections
0:02:25 > 0:02:27just north of Newcastle.
0:02:30 > 0:02:36Here, the A1 becomes a single lane road with no central reservation.
0:02:38 > 0:02:40The dynamics of accidents change.
0:02:40 > 0:02:45You get more serious accidents up here with motorcycles and cars.
0:02:45 > 0:02:48We do get quite a lot of head-on collisions on this road,
0:02:48 > 0:02:51simply because people want to do the overtake on the single carriageway
0:02:51 > 0:02:55and they don't appreciate how fast the other car, the inbound car,
0:02:55 > 0:02:57is coming towards them.
0:02:57 > 0:03:00And not long after, a call comes in
0:03:00 > 0:03:04confirming just how treacherous this section of the A1 can be.
0:03:11 > 0:03:13As one of the closest patrols...
0:03:13 > 0:03:16- Sirens on. - ..Darren responds immediately.
0:03:16 > 0:03:19SIRENS WAIL
0:03:22 > 0:03:27We've now got reports of a motorcycle and a car collision
0:03:27 > 0:03:30just south of Morpeth.
0:03:31 > 0:03:36But still 15 miles from the scene, it's crucial he gets there quickly,
0:03:36 > 0:03:38which involves high-speed driving
0:03:38 > 0:03:42and overtaking along this single-lane section.
0:03:42 > 0:03:43Stay where you are.
0:03:51 > 0:03:54We've got very little details at the minute,
0:03:54 > 0:03:56but we believe the motorcyclist is injured.
0:03:56 > 0:04:00You're always thinking the worst with a motorcycle accident.
0:04:07 > 0:04:09As he approaches the accident,
0:04:09 > 0:04:12there's already a mile-long tailback...
0:04:13 > 0:04:15..forcing Darren to squeeze perilously
0:04:15 > 0:04:18between queueing traffic and oncoming vehicles.
0:04:24 > 0:04:28Arriving on the scene, the situation looks extremely serious.
0:04:31 > 0:04:34The rider is being treated on the road
0:04:34 > 0:04:37after colliding with the back of a car at high speed.
0:04:39 > 0:04:42- Can I give you a hand? - No, you're all right.- Are you sure?
0:04:44 > 0:04:47With paramedics taking care of the rider,
0:04:47 > 0:04:50Darren starts to piece together exactly what happened.
0:04:50 > 0:04:54- How are we doing? Are you all right?- I'm a bit shaken.
0:04:54 > 0:04:57- OK. Don't worry about it. - I think he's breathing now.
0:04:57 > 0:05:00- What happened?- I'm an architect on the site of Hebron Hill Farm.
0:05:00 > 0:05:03- OK.- It's a bad right-hand turn here.
0:05:03 > 0:05:06- Yeah.- I've slowed down, I've indicated to turn right,
0:05:06 > 0:05:09I've come into here,
0:05:09 > 0:05:12and as I was driving in, there was an almighty whack.
0:05:12 > 0:05:15All I would assume is that he's tried overtaking.
0:05:17 > 0:05:20The full force of the impact has flung the rider
0:05:20 > 0:05:23almost 20 metres down the road.
0:05:26 > 0:05:30The driver of the silver car here, the BMW, he appears to be OK.
0:05:30 > 0:05:31A little bit shocked and shaken.
0:05:31 > 0:05:34We're going to get him away, get him off the site, give him a cup of tea,
0:05:34 > 0:05:37get him warmed up. And then we'll keep the road closed
0:05:37 > 0:05:38until we make sure HE'S all right.
0:05:41 > 0:05:44As other officers control passing traffic,
0:05:44 > 0:05:48Darren learns the full extent of the biker's injuries from paramedics.
0:05:49 > 0:05:51Left forearm's broke?
0:05:52 > 0:05:54His thigh is broke, is it?
0:05:54 > 0:05:56- Multiple, is it?- Yeah, yeah.
0:05:56 > 0:06:00Multiple fractures and possible internal injuries
0:06:00 > 0:06:02could be life-changing for the motorcyclist.
0:06:02 > 0:06:05Darren's going to be pushed to the limit
0:06:05 > 0:06:08dealing with this serious incident.
0:06:11 > 0:06:15More than 110 miles south of the rural landscape of Northumbria
0:06:15 > 0:06:19is one of the busiest intersections on the whole of the A1,
0:06:19 > 0:06:21where it meets the M62.
0:06:23 > 0:06:27Traffic officers Paul Day and Rob Larkin
0:06:27 > 0:06:30are tasked with keeping this area safe.
0:06:31 > 0:06:35A common danger is lorry drivers taking a break on the hard shoulder.
0:06:38 > 0:06:42When the traffic officers turn up, they don't usually stick around.
0:06:45 > 0:06:48It looks like we've scared him off.
0:06:48 > 0:06:50He's left scene. Over.
0:06:51 > 0:06:55By law, lorry drivers need to rest for 45 minutes
0:06:55 > 0:06:57every four and a half hours.
0:06:57 > 0:07:00They should find a safe place to pull over,
0:07:00 > 0:07:02but some of them think it's OK
0:07:02 > 0:07:05to take their break on the hard shoulder.
0:07:05 > 0:07:07But that's against the law.
0:07:09 > 0:07:12Foreign LGV parked on the hard shoulder, Rob.
0:07:12 > 0:07:15Paul wants to catch this trucker before he gives him the slip.
0:07:18 > 0:07:22Because it's quite wide, LGVs just think it's OK to stop,
0:07:22 > 0:07:24especially foreign LGVs.
0:07:24 > 0:07:27They don't realise they cannot stop on a British motorway
0:07:27 > 0:07:29except for an emergency.
0:07:29 > 0:07:31The driver's keen to let Paul know
0:07:31 > 0:07:36- he's abiding by the rest break rules. - Hi.- Good day.- You all right?
0:07:36 > 0:07:38Yes, yes, yes. 45 minutes.
0:07:38 > 0:07:41Can't stop on a British hard shoulder, boss,
0:07:41 > 0:07:43you have to come off at the next junction.
0:07:44 > 0:07:46It's not my problem, mate,
0:07:46 > 0:07:50you'll have to come off at 37 and turn right.
0:07:50 > 0:07:53- When you turn right, there's a parking space off there.- OK.- OK?
0:07:53 > 0:07:56- Thank you.- Thank you very much. - All right.
0:08:00 > 0:08:02It may seem like a minor issue,
0:08:02 > 0:08:06but these illegal pit stops put lives in danger.
0:08:07 > 0:08:09Being parked on the hard shoulder
0:08:09 > 0:08:12is one of the most dangerous parts of the motorway.
0:08:12 > 0:08:15The longer you are on the hard shoulder,
0:08:15 > 0:08:17the greater the chances are you're going to get hit.
0:08:20 > 0:08:23More than 50 people are killed or seriously injured
0:08:23 > 0:08:27in hard shoulder accidents on Britain's roads each year.
0:08:28 > 0:08:30Yet, despite the danger,
0:08:30 > 0:08:34drivers continue to put themselves and others at risk.
0:08:34 > 0:08:38But with thousands of lorry drivers using the A1 every day,
0:08:38 > 0:08:40it's a battle to which Rob and Paul will return.
0:08:46 > 0:08:49More than two hours' drive north near Morpeth,
0:08:49 > 0:08:53PC Darren Lant is still dealing with the aftermath of a serious collision,
0:08:53 > 0:08:58where a 57-year-old biker's life is on the line.
0:09:00 > 0:09:02Less than an hour ago,
0:09:02 > 0:09:06his motorbike collided with the back of a stationary BMW,
0:09:06 > 0:09:10which resulted in the rider suffering life-threatening injuries.
0:09:13 > 0:09:15After stabilising him,
0:09:15 > 0:09:18the paramedics can now get the motorcyclist off the road
0:09:18 > 0:09:20and into the ambulance.
0:09:26 > 0:09:28Yeah, he's not very well, bless him.
0:09:28 > 0:09:30He's conscious and breathing,
0:09:30 > 0:09:33but he's got multiple fractures, both arms and, possibly, both legs.
0:09:33 > 0:09:36Certainly, one of his legs, but possibly both of his legs.
0:09:36 > 0:09:39With the paramedics taking care of the biker,
0:09:39 > 0:09:42Darren's attention now turns to the traffic,
0:09:42 > 0:09:45which is tailing back several miles in both directions.
0:09:46 > 0:09:48It's the main road, isn't it?
0:09:48 > 0:09:51There's only one way in and out of Scotland up this way,
0:09:51 > 0:09:54so we've got to get this open because of the delaying traffic.
0:09:54 > 0:09:55People are getting frustrated.
0:09:57 > 0:09:59But before the road can be fully cleared,
0:09:59 > 0:10:02Darren needs to document the scene...
0:10:04 > 0:10:08..and gather any evidence which could be used in a prosecution.
0:10:13 > 0:10:17While the wrecked bike waits for its roadside rescue...
0:10:19 > 0:10:21..its owner is on the way to the last place
0:10:21 > 0:10:25any driver wants to end up when they set out on a journey.
0:10:25 > 0:10:27The motorcyclist, he's going to be blue-lighted down
0:10:27 > 0:10:31to Newcastle's Royal Victoria, the hospital, the trauma hospital,
0:10:31 > 0:10:33where he's going to go into specialist care.
0:10:35 > 0:10:37An hour after the accident,
0:10:37 > 0:10:41this vital section of the A1 is cleared of debris
0:10:41 > 0:10:43and ready to be reopened.
0:10:47 > 0:10:49Motorcyclists accounted for
0:10:49 > 0:10:53one in every seven people killed on the A1 in 2015.
0:10:54 > 0:10:56And Darren is well used to dealing
0:10:56 > 0:10:58with the aftermath of these accidents.
0:10:59 > 0:11:02I don't know, I've got mixed feelings about motorbikes.
0:11:02 > 0:11:06I like watching motor superbikes and all that sort of stuff, but...
0:11:06 > 0:11:07You just get no protection,
0:11:07 > 0:11:09very, very little protection on a motorbike.
0:11:11 > 0:11:14You kind of become desensitised to it.
0:11:14 > 0:11:15I've seen it that many times now,
0:11:15 > 0:11:18and I've dealt with that many accidents,
0:11:18 > 0:11:21it's just part and parcel of a motor patroller's job.
0:11:21 > 0:11:22It's our role.
0:11:27 > 0:11:31With the motorcyclist heading to hospital for emergency treatment,
0:11:31 > 0:11:34back at base, Darren has the difficult task
0:11:34 > 0:11:36of informing his family.
0:11:43 > 0:11:45What's happened is your dad's been involved
0:11:45 > 0:11:47in an accident on his motorcycle.
0:11:47 > 0:11:48He's all right.
0:11:48 > 0:11:50He's got some quite nasty injuries,
0:11:50 > 0:11:53and he's been taken to the RVI.
0:11:53 > 0:11:56He's in a critical, but stable, condition,
0:11:56 > 0:12:00and, obviously, he's going to be in there for a while.
0:12:02 > 0:12:06It's a call no-one wants to receive or make.
0:12:06 > 0:12:10But with over 180,000 casualties on Britain's roads each year,
0:12:10 > 0:12:14it's a hard reality of every patrol officer's role.
0:12:19 > 0:12:21130 miles south,
0:12:21 > 0:12:25on one of the busiest motorway stretches of the A1 near Doncaster,
0:12:25 > 0:12:28two Highways England traffic officers
0:12:28 > 0:12:30are on a mission to prevent accidents.
0:12:34 > 0:12:37Rob and Paul are on the lookout for lorry drivers
0:12:37 > 0:12:40illegally blocking the hard shoulder,
0:12:40 > 0:12:43putting themselves and other drivers at risk.
0:12:43 > 0:12:46Now, they've got another lorry in their sights.
0:12:47 > 0:12:50It looks like he's broken down, but I'm not sure.
0:12:50 > 0:12:55Drivers can only stop on the hard shoulder of the A1 in emergencies.
0:12:55 > 0:12:57But some truckers use it as a parking spot
0:12:57 > 0:12:59when trying to follow an EU law
0:12:59 > 0:13:04saying they must rest for 45 minutes every four and a half hours.
0:13:06 > 0:13:08Hiya, mate.
0:13:08 > 0:13:10- What's up?- I just realised I'm on my four and a half.
0:13:10 > 0:13:12I knew you were going to tell me that.
0:13:12 > 0:13:14You can't stop on the hard shoulder of the motorway.
0:13:14 > 0:13:17I know, that's why I used this bit instead of a slip road.
0:13:17 > 0:13:19This is not allowed. You're actually on a motorway.
0:13:19 > 0:13:21You can't stop here, either.
0:13:21 > 0:13:23Lorry driver Paul Coote is on his way to Norwich
0:13:23 > 0:13:26with a wagon full of kitchen units and broom handles,
0:13:26 > 0:13:29and it's looking like he's trying to give Paul the brush off.
0:13:29 > 0:13:31I'm going to break the law, then. You've just told me to.
0:13:31 > 0:13:35That's up to yourself. You've got to find your own place to park.
0:13:35 > 0:13:38I stick to the law and I'm going to be reported for it.
0:13:38 > 0:13:39Well, you're not sticking to the law
0:13:39 > 0:13:41because you're not allowed to stop on the hard shoulder
0:13:41 > 0:13:44of the motorway, but that's not my choice. It's up to you, that.
0:13:44 > 0:13:46I'm sticking to the EU tacho laws.
0:13:46 > 0:13:49A tacho, or tachograph, is a digital device
0:13:49 > 0:13:53fitted to vehicles which records speed and distance.
0:13:53 > 0:13:55It will register if the driver fails to stop his truck
0:13:55 > 0:14:00for the required 45 minutes, which is a serious breach of EU law.
0:14:00 > 0:14:03So, lorry driver Paul is desperate to stick around.
0:14:03 > 0:14:05Am I good for four minutes?
0:14:05 > 0:14:07I can't tell you you're good for four minutes.
0:14:07 > 0:14:09What I have to do is pass your details on. If you're saying
0:14:09 > 0:14:12- "four minutes", then four minutes is four minutes.- Yeah.
0:14:12 > 0:14:15Paul doesn't have the power to move the driver on,
0:14:15 > 0:14:17but he can inform him of the rules.
0:14:17 > 0:14:19If you'd have come off at 37,
0:14:19 > 0:14:22there's a lay-by off the left-hand side there.
0:14:22 > 0:14:24- I didn't know that. - I appreciate that,
0:14:24 > 0:14:25but you've just got to do the job.
0:14:25 > 0:14:27Your responsibility, you're the man.
0:14:27 > 0:14:31- Yeah.- All right? No worries, I'll pass your details on.
0:14:34 > 0:14:38- Right, have you got any recovery? - Yeah, it's coming! It's coming!
0:14:38 > 0:14:40You're not going to win.
0:14:42 > 0:14:43You're not going to win.
0:14:43 > 0:14:46Right, it's safer out of the vehicle than in the vehicle,
0:14:46 > 0:14:48cos you're going to stay for your four minutes.
0:14:48 > 0:14:50But you're safer out of the vehicle than in the vehicle.
0:14:50 > 0:14:52- And keep your eye on traffic, all right?- I will.
0:14:52 > 0:14:54- All right, then.- Thank you. - Look after yoursen, yeah?
0:14:57 > 0:15:01Paul radios an update to the control room.
0:15:01 > 0:15:04He's on a tacho break, very, very close to the end of his break.
0:15:04 > 0:15:08Obviously, we've given him safety advice, said he shouldn't do it.
0:15:08 > 0:15:10We've had a bit of a debate about it,
0:15:10 > 0:15:13and the upshot is he's staying here till he's finished his break. Over.
0:15:15 > 0:15:18Paul Coote has been driving lorries for more than 40 years.
0:15:18 > 0:15:20But today, he admits he's learned a valuable lesson.
0:15:20 > 0:15:22He's come out and he's pointed something out
0:15:22 > 0:15:25which I didn't know of. I knew I'm not allowed on the hard shoulder
0:15:25 > 0:15:27on a motorway, but being on a slip road,
0:15:27 > 0:15:29I thought I might have been all right on a works unit.
0:15:29 > 0:15:32I'm not. It's something I've learned.
0:15:33 > 0:15:35And that's the way it goes.
0:15:35 > 0:15:38It's practically impossible to know every area,
0:15:38 > 0:15:39every place you could stop.
0:15:39 > 0:15:41If you're on a regular route,
0:15:41 > 0:15:43you have a regular stopping point.
0:15:43 > 0:15:47Once I realised I was three miles from the M18,
0:15:47 > 0:15:48I had to stop.
0:15:48 > 0:15:52I've got to adhere to the law, but it makes you break another law.
0:15:52 > 0:15:54So, where do you stand?
0:15:54 > 0:15:56It's just a nonsense, I'm afraid.
0:15:57 > 0:16:00The tacho laws were brought in to protect truckers
0:16:00 > 0:16:03from being asked to drive while tired.
0:16:03 > 0:16:05And fatigue is still a factor
0:16:05 > 0:16:08in about one in five serious motorway crashes.
0:16:10 > 0:16:13But to avoid breaking the law by stopping on the hard shoulder,
0:16:13 > 0:16:15drivers need to plan ahead.
0:16:15 > 0:16:20All we can do is explain and say, "Look, you're not allowed to stop,
0:16:20 > 0:16:22"you know you're not allowed to stop."
0:16:22 > 0:16:25You get a bit of backwards and forwards with them,
0:16:25 > 0:16:27saying, "I've no time left, I've no time left".
0:16:27 > 0:16:30Well, that's fine. You might not have any time left,
0:16:30 > 0:16:33but it's their responsibility
0:16:33 > 0:16:35- to find a place of safety... - Before the time runs out.
0:16:35 > 0:16:37..before the time runs out.
0:16:38 > 0:16:40As an ex-bus driver himself,
0:16:40 > 0:16:43Paul understands the lorry driver's dilemma.
0:16:43 > 0:16:45My mates who are truckers are going to go mad with me.
0:16:45 > 0:16:48Is that because you're the nasty guy from Highways England?
0:16:48 > 0:16:51- All I keep doing is moving trucks on.- Get off my motorway!
0:16:58 > 0:17:02As Britain's longest road, the A1 sees its fair share of broken down
0:17:02 > 0:17:05vehicles and, as this footage shows,
0:17:05 > 0:17:08being stranded next to fast-moving motorway traffic...
0:17:11 > 0:17:14..is an extremely perilous place to be.
0:17:18 > 0:17:21On the Western bypass near Newcastle,
0:17:21 > 0:17:24there's no hard shoulder for stricken vehicles to pull into,
0:17:24 > 0:17:26so they're especially vulnerable.
0:17:30 > 0:17:32Fortunately, there is help at hand.
0:17:32 > 0:17:35Motorbike rider, Peter Dodds.
0:17:37 > 0:17:41Breaking down is a traumatic experience for everybody.
0:17:41 > 0:17:43It has a knock-on effect for everybody,
0:17:43 > 0:17:45kids going to school and so on,
0:17:45 > 0:17:47so you need to get those people out of there as quick as possible
0:17:47 > 0:17:50to let everybody else do their thing through life.
0:17:52 > 0:17:54When vehicles break down,
0:17:54 > 0:17:57it's Peter's mission to get them off the road fast.
0:17:59 > 0:18:02- I'm going to put you on the back of the bike.- Right.
0:18:02 > 0:18:04We'll pick your car up, you in the car,
0:18:04 > 0:18:06take you off to a place of safety.
0:18:06 > 0:18:10But how does one man and his motorbike move a car
0:18:10 > 0:18:12weighing just over a tonne?
0:18:13 > 0:18:16This is no ordinary bike.
0:18:16 > 0:18:19It's been specially adapted with a hydraulic trailer.
0:18:20 > 0:18:25It unfolds, allowing Peter to carry cars and small vans off the A1
0:18:25 > 0:18:27all in a matter of minutes.
0:18:31 > 0:18:35Which is why round these parts he's known as the minute man.
0:18:37 > 0:18:39Just driving up the road and the car just came up with a fault
0:18:39 > 0:18:41on my dashboard.
0:18:41 > 0:18:44It totally cut out. Just wouldn't restart.
0:18:46 > 0:18:50In next to no time, the Polo is hitched up on Peter's trailer.
0:18:50 > 0:18:53It's awesome technology.
0:18:54 > 0:18:57Gets us off the road and safe quick.
0:18:57 > 0:19:02In just ten minutes, Peter and his incredible bike are back on the road
0:19:02 > 0:19:05with driver and car in tow...
0:19:11 > 0:19:15..leaving the traffic on the A1 to flow freely again.
0:19:23 > 0:19:28Peter's one of a small band of minute-men patrolling the A1.
0:19:28 > 0:19:31They deal with more than 900 incidents every year,
0:19:31 > 0:19:34and their powers really come into their own
0:19:34 > 0:19:36when dealing with emergencies.
0:19:38 > 0:19:42There's been a three-car pile-up outside Newcastle at rush-hour.
0:19:43 > 0:19:48With traffic mounting, it looks like there's no way through.
0:19:48 > 0:19:50This is clearly a job for the minute man.
0:19:55 > 0:19:58Peter makes short work of cutting through the cars.
0:20:00 > 0:20:02He's one of the first recovery services on the scene.
0:20:04 > 0:20:07Where a three-vehicle shunt on the outside lane
0:20:07 > 0:20:09has led to traffic chaos.
0:20:11 > 0:20:14We've got a Mondeo estate and then a Skoda Yeti four-wheel drive.
0:20:14 > 0:20:18The lightest one there is going to be the Astra at the front, actually.
0:20:18 > 0:20:20Let's have a look.
0:20:20 > 0:20:21Fortunately, no-one is hurt,
0:20:21 > 0:20:24but Peter knows the longer the cars stay in the lane,
0:20:24 > 0:20:28the greater the chance of another collision and there are vulnerable
0:20:28 > 0:20:32drivers stranded in the central reservation.
0:20:32 > 0:20:34The lad on the back just didn't stop.
0:20:34 > 0:20:37He ploughed into the back of him and then he hit the back of me
0:20:37 > 0:20:39and I hit a lass that was in front of me,
0:20:39 > 0:20:41but obviously her car was not that much damaged.
0:20:41 > 0:20:44Mine's mostly superficial.
0:20:44 > 0:20:46Popped my radiator, as well.
0:20:48 > 0:20:51But his luck is about to change.
0:20:53 > 0:20:56His car is a perfect fit for Peter's bike
0:20:56 > 0:20:58and he'll be off the road in no time.
0:20:58 > 0:20:59Ready?
0:21:08 > 0:21:10Are you ready to go?
0:21:10 > 0:21:12We'll take you around to the Angel Of The North out the way.
0:21:12 > 0:21:15- Jump in your driver's seat, there. Don't touch anything.- Yeah.
0:21:15 > 0:21:17- Put your seat belt on.- Yeah.
0:21:17 > 0:21:19This lad will put you on the front seat of the car.
0:21:19 > 0:21:22Put him in the passenger seat, please.
0:21:24 > 0:21:28Peter's ready to roll just as the recovery truck turns up
0:21:28 > 0:21:30to deal with the other two vehicles.
0:21:32 > 0:21:37For this hi-vis hero, it's just another day on the job,
0:21:37 > 0:21:39and for the drivers desperate to get on their way,
0:21:39 > 0:21:43Peter and his hi-tech bike have saved the day.
0:21:47 > 0:21:51Obviously when the bike turned up, I was wondering what it was.
0:21:51 > 0:21:54When I seen it getting put into its positions and stuff,
0:21:54 > 0:21:56it's a good bit of kit.
0:21:59 > 0:22:03Love the bikes, absolutely love them,
0:22:03 > 0:22:05and, most of all, I love helping people.
0:22:13 > 0:22:16With more than 60% of us commuting by car,
0:22:16 > 0:22:20it's no surprise Britain's major roads feel the strain.
0:22:23 > 0:22:25It's Friday night rush-hour,
0:22:25 > 0:22:28the A1's busiest time of the week.
0:22:30 > 0:22:35PC Alan Keenlyside is battling through traffic to another incident
0:22:35 > 0:22:37near Newcastle.
0:22:40 > 0:22:45So we're travelling to a report of a live lane breakdown on the A1,
0:22:45 > 0:22:47so we're in rush-hour traffic now.
0:22:47 > 0:22:49It's dark.
0:22:49 > 0:22:52It's potentially going to be on an unlit or poorly lit section of
0:22:52 > 0:22:56the A1, so we've got a real risk here of a stationary car
0:22:56 > 0:22:59in the slow lane of the A1, and it's vulnerable
0:22:59 > 0:23:02and we need to get there really quickly.
0:23:04 > 0:23:08Worst case scenario is a car travelling at 70mph
0:23:08 > 0:23:10crashes into that vehicle.
0:23:10 > 0:23:14There's always injuries and it's quite often loss of life, so,
0:23:14 > 0:23:17yeah, we treat it really, really seriously.
0:23:17 > 0:23:20The vehicle is going to be around this bend.
0:23:20 > 0:23:22There it is.
0:23:22 > 0:23:25It's actually sticking well out into lane one.
0:23:25 > 0:23:27Alan has called in help from colleagues
0:23:27 > 0:23:29in an unmarked police car.
0:23:29 > 0:23:31Do you want to come ahead of me in the unmarked?
0:23:31 > 0:23:35What I've done, then, is that's an unmarked motor patrol vehicle.
0:23:35 > 0:23:38It's safer to have a fully marked vehicle at the back
0:23:38 > 0:23:41using all our reflective equipment.
0:23:41 > 0:23:43With traffic building fast,
0:23:43 > 0:23:47Alan needs to make sure the driver is out of harm's way.
0:23:50 > 0:23:54It's backed up as far as you can see backwards in lane two.
0:23:54 > 0:23:58I would normally go down but they've actually just pushed it.
0:23:58 > 0:24:00They've been able to push the vehicle downhill.
0:24:00 > 0:24:03That will get the two police vehicles off the road
0:24:03 > 0:24:07and now we can deal with this broken down with all lanes open.
0:24:09 > 0:24:12- You all right? - I'm all right.
0:24:13 > 0:24:15Aye, all right.
0:24:18 > 0:24:22Driver Alistair's had a blow out on the main carriageway and Alan's
0:24:22 > 0:24:26not prepared to let him change the tyre in such a dangerous spot.
0:24:26 > 0:24:29We could temporarily stop the slip road.
0:24:29 > 0:24:33- Do you want me to put closure on just before the junction?- Yes, mate.
0:24:33 > 0:24:38Alan has no choice but to shepherd the car back onto the A1.
0:24:42 > 0:24:44While the other team closes the slip road,
0:24:44 > 0:24:47driver Alistair reverses the car the wrong way up it...
0:24:49 > 0:24:52..and he finally finds a place of safety.
0:24:58 > 0:25:02I was going home for my tea, so my tea's in the oven!
0:25:02 > 0:25:04- Tea's in the dog. - No, no, tea's in the oven.
0:25:04 > 0:25:07I phoned the wife. "I'll be a bit late."
0:25:07 > 0:25:09"Why?" "I've had a blow out."
0:25:09 > 0:25:12"Oh, right, I'll put your tea in the oven."
0:25:12 > 0:25:14She didn't even ask if I was OK!
0:25:18 > 0:25:21Blown there, right the way round.
0:25:24 > 0:25:26There you are, try that.
0:25:26 > 0:25:30But changing the wheel is proving a much tougher job
0:25:30 > 0:25:32than they both expected.
0:25:32 > 0:25:34Is it going in at all, is it?
0:25:37 > 0:25:40- It seems to be a fair bit still to go on that.- Yeah, there is.
0:25:40 > 0:25:41On all four of them.
0:25:41 > 0:25:44The only thing I can think of is you're putting a steel wheel on
0:25:44 > 0:25:46and it's an alloy wheel nut.
0:25:48 > 0:25:52The pair are baffled as to why the bolts are failing to fully tighten.
0:25:52 > 0:25:57Alan's determined to get Alistair on his way and hopes someone at the
0:25:57 > 0:26:00local services can shed some light.
0:26:01 > 0:26:04The gentleman has got the best part of 35 miles to go,
0:26:04 > 0:26:07so I'd be happy if he went to the service station,
0:26:07 > 0:26:10got into the garage and see if they've got anything in there.
0:26:13 > 0:26:16Kind of hoping, if I've got to be honest,
0:26:16 > 0:26:18that this service station that we're heading to
0:26:18 > 0:26:20might have some repair parts.
0:26:20 > 0:26:23It's always nice to be able to help someone to a resolution
0:26:23 > 0:26:26whereby they're on their way and they're on their way home.
0:26:26 > 0:26:30At the service station, it looks like help might be at hand.
0:26:30 > 0:26:33Sometimes in these places you get people from the AA and the RAC
0:26:33 > 0:26:38who might be taking a break and cue the right....
0:26:38 > 0:26:41It's the RAC!
0:26:41 > 0:26:43Seen who it is?
0:26:43 > 0:26:45It's the fourth emergency service!
0:26:45 > 0:26:48Or is that the AA? It's the fifth emergency service.
0:26:48 > 0:26:52- I'll ask them, anyway.- But the driver doesn't have the parts...
0:26:52 > 0:26:56This lad is just a recovery lad so unfortunately he can't help me.
0:26:56 > 0:26:59..so Alistair finally calls his own recovery provider,
0:26:59 > 0:27:03hoping they can get to grips with the tricky wheel bolts.
0:27:03 > 0:27:07We've got a canny gap and that's as tight as we can get them.
0:27:08 > 0:27:12- But, that's right.- Is it?- Aye, there's a sticker there, tells you.
0:27:12 > 0:27:16- It's telling you that's all right. - Who reads instruction manuals?
0:27:16 > 0:27:19Why didn't we see that?
0:27:19 > 0:27:22So pointing to that there, which clearly shows that there's a gap
0:27:22 > 0:27:26between the nut and the casing of the wheel, which we've got...
0:27:26 > 0:27:29If there was something wrong, at least he's going to check it
0:27:29 > 0:27:31and you're going to get the professional looking at it.
0:27:31 > 0:27:33You've already looked at it!
0:27:35 > 0:27:38If you lads haven't been there and I'd done that myself,
0:27:38 > 0:27:39I'd have been like, "No way."
0:27:39 > 0:27:41- It's not very obvious, is it? - It's only yellow and black.
0:27:41 > 0:27:44They could have made it stand out a bit more, couldn't they?
0:27:49 > 0:27:53The motorcyclist left badly injured after crashing on the A1
0:27:53 > 0:27:58has undergone multiple operations, but is now on the road to recovery.
0:27:58 > 0:28:04And, after fixing his tyre, Alistair finally managed to make it home for his tea.