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 > 0:00:17Connecting two nations, and passing through 18 counties,
0:00:17 > 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.
0:00:32 > 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 a dangerous place to be.
0:00:39 > 0:00:41Lives can hang in the balance.
0:00:41 > 0:00:44The rear end of that vehicle is unrecognisable.
0:00:44 > 0:00:46This is actually the bodywork of the car.
0:00:48 > 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
0:01:01 > 0:01:03or 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 > 0:01:11Keeping 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 > 0:01:21The A1, the monster that it is, will start to return to normal.
0:01:25 > 0:01:27Coming up...
0:01:27 > 0:01:30The careless drivers putting lives at risk.
0:01:30 > 0:01:33The worst-case scenario is that it's a fatality.
0:01:33 > 0:01:35Officers race to the scene...
0:01:35 > 0:01:37This is high priority.
0:01:37 > 0:01:39..of a treacherous tyre blowout.
0:01:39 > 0:01:40Traffic's just too busy.
0:01:41 > 0:01:44The chances of somebody getting struck on that offside
0:01:44 > 0:01:45is really high.
0:01:45 > 0:01:48And the speeding teenage motorist who's risking everything.
0:01:48 > 0:01:51If we prosecute through the fixed penalty system,
0:01:51 > 0:01:53this driver's going to lose his licence.
0:02:00 > 0:02:03More than 1,700 people were killed or injured
0:02:03 > 0:02:07in accidents on Britain's roads in 2015.
0:02:07 > 0:02:1021 of them lost their lives on the A1.
0:02:10 > 0:02:13Some involve just one vehicle.
0:02:13 > 0:02:14Others involve several.
0:02:16 > 0:02:19But by far the most common accidents seen on the highway
0:02:19 > 0:02:21are rear-end shunts.
0:02:23 > 0:02:25It's now half past seven in the morning
0:02:25 > 0:02:27and there's a report of a pile-up
0:02:27 > 0:02:29just before the A1 crosses the River Tyne.
0:02:32 > 0:02:36PC Darren Lant doesn't yet know if there are any injuries.
0:02:36 > 0:02:39It's vital he gets there as soon as possible.
0:02:39 > 0:02:44I think what's happened is there's been a collision
0:02:44 > 0:02:48involving four vehicles, and then as people have slowed down,
0:02:48 > 0:02:51there's been a secondary collision, resulting in another two.
0:02:52 > 0:02:54We should be coming across it shortly
0:02:54 > 0:02:56on the northbound carriageway.
0:02:57 > 0:03:00The accident has only just been reported
0:03:00 > 0:03:05but there are already tailbacks, causing danger to other road users.
0:03:05 > 0:03:08We've already got quite a substantial build-up,
0:03:08 > 0:03:11and this is the main arterial route through Newcastle, the A1.
0:03:13 > 0:03:15Darren needs to weave through the southbound traffic.
0:03:15 > 0:03:18But many drivers have slowed to look,
0:03:18 > 0:03:21creating the risk of further shunts.
0:03:21 > 0:03:23The main priority, certainly for me,
0:03:23 > 0:03:27is the welfare and first aid of all those involved.
0:03:27 > 0:03:31The worst-case scenario is that it's a fatality,
0:03:31 > 0:03:33which would mean a full road closure,
0:03:33 > 0:03:37and can you imagine trying to divert everything off the A1
0:03:37 > 0:03:39to an alternative route?
0:03:41 > 0:03:43So we're just pulling up on scene now.
0:03:43 > 0:03:45You'll be able to see the recovery truck up ahead.
0:03:50 > 0:03:52Anybody hurt?
0:03:52 > 0:03:55No injuries? Oh, excellent. Excellent. Great.
0:03:55 > 0:03:57These drivers had a lucky escape,
0:03:57 > 0:04:01but until the cars are recovered, a lane has been closed on the A1
0:04:01 > 0:04:03causing stop-start traffic further south.
0:04:03 > 0:04:07Lane one's closed for about a fifth of the way,
0:04:07 > 0:04:11about 100 metres, just north of the bridge.
0:04:11 > 0:04:15The lane can't be reopened until Darren gathers his evidence.
0:04:16 > 0:04:18We were just coming along, the traffic slowed down,
0:04:18 > 0:04:20to be honest with you.
0:04:20 > 0:04:24It was one in front, two in front and literally bumped each other.
0:04:24 > 0:04:27They've just all stopped and just gone into the back of us.
0:04:29 > 0:04:32After hearing one version of events,
0:04:32 > 0:04:35Darren needs to get the other side of the story.
0:04:35 > 0:04:37Was there anything wrong with your brakes or anything?
0:04:37 > 0:04:38You don't think so.
0:04:38 > 0:04:40Have you got your driving licence with you, have you?
0:04:40 > 0:04:42Can I see your driving licence, please?
0:04:42 > 0:04:45Well, I was on me way to work at Blyth and obviously the traffic's
0:04:45 > 0:04:48slowed down and the lady's just gone into the back of us.
0:04:48 > 0:04:50This is the first accident I've had.
0:04:50 > 0:04:53I've been driving over 30 years.
0:04:54 > 0:04:57You're more thinking about the other people trying to get to work and
0:04:57 > 0:05:01you're stopping them from getting to work, so that doesn't help either.
0:05:01 > 0:05:03But I'll probably not get to work for the rest of the week now,
0:05:03 > 0:05:05either, until I get things sorted out.
0:05:05 > 0:05:09The other driver accepts full responsibility for the crash.
0:05:09 > 0:05:12Darren's now gathered the evidence he needs to decide whether
0:05:12 > 0:05:14any offence has been committed.
0:05:14 > 0:05:16It turned out quite...
0:05:16 > 0:05:18Although it's quite substantially damaged both vehicles,
0:05:18 > 0:05:20there's no injuries, which is a good thing.
0:05:20 > 0:05:22It was the result of a secondary collision.
0:05:22 > 0:05:26There had been one further up and the lady hasn't been able to stop
0:05:26 > 0:05:28in time before the Nissan's come to a stop,
0:05:28 > 0:05:30and she's gone into the back of him.
0:05:30 > 0:05:33The priority now is to recover both vehicles
0:05:33 > 0:05:37so that the A1 can be reopened to ease the rush-hour jams.
0:05:43 > 0:05:47After 15 minutes, Darren can leave the scene,
0:05:47 > 0:05:49and will assess whether to take any further action.
0:05:51 > 0:05:54The driver of the Nissan, the one that's had the other one going into
0:05:54 > 0:05:56the back of him, he's all right.
0:05:56 > 0:05:58Nothing will happen with him.
0:05:59 > 0:06:04The other driver, the female, she hasn't been able to stop in time.
0:06:04 > 0:06:07She said the road was slippy, it's not, it's nice and dry.
0:06:07 > 0:06:10She's not alleging any mechanical defect with her car,
0:06:10 > 0:06:12she said the brakes were fine.
0:06:12 > 0:06:15She doesn't know why she hasn't been able to stop in time.
0:06:15 > 0:06:18It's my suspicion and I strongly suspect that she just hasn't reacted enough.
0:06:18 > 0:06:22She'd been driving maybe a little too fast for the conditions,
0:06:22 > 0:06:25hasn't acknowledged that the guy's coming to a stop
0:06:25 > 0:06:26and just gone into the back of him.
0:06:28 > 0:06:32You must be able to stop in the distance you can see ahead
0:06:32 > 0:06:34to be clear. And she hasn't been able to do that.
0:06:37 > 0:06:40Both cars will now be taken away to be repaired.
0:06:40 > 0:06:44It'll be up to the drivers to organise their own insurance claims.
0:06:53 > 0:06:57Traffic officers deal with more than 4,000 breakdowns on the A1
0:06:57 > 0:06:59every year.
0:06:59 > 0:07:02It's a common call-out, but one that causes delays,
0:07:02 > 0:07:04disruption and danger.
0:07:06 > 0:07:07In South Yorkshire,
0:07:07 > 0:07:12Paul Day and Rob Larkin are on patrol along the road.
0:07:12 > 0:07:14Three hours into their afternoon shift,
0:07:14 > 0:07:17they spot a van on the opposite side of the A1.
0:07:17 > 0:07:21There appears to be a large vehicle with a trailer on.
0:07:21 > 0:07:23We're just turning to attend.
0:07:23 > 0:07:26If the van's broken down in the middle of a lane,
0:07:26 > 0:07:28it could cause a serious accident.
0:07:29 > 0:07:35Depending on how far he is down the slip, he may well be in a live lane.
0:07:35 > 0:07:39The best scenario here is that it's on the hard shoulder.
0:07:39 > 0:07:42That's the potential to be the case.
0:07:42 > 0:07:45But if it's a live lane, this is high priority.
0:07:48 > 0:07:51He is actually on the hard shoulder.
0:07:51 > 0:07:55- Just.- He's moving. Is he moving?- No.- He is.
0:07:57 > 0:07:59Looks like he's got an offside puncture.
0:07:59 > 0:08:03The broken-down vehicle is a van with a trailer.
0:08:03 > 0:08:06Although the driver has managed to pull onto the hard shoulder,
0:08:06 > 0:08:08it's still a dangerous situation.
0:08:08 > 0:08:09What's the word?
0:08:14 > 0:08:16How much weight you got on there?
0:08:17 > 0:08:19There's a lot on there.
0:08:21 > 0:08:23This is a very dangerous job.
0:08:23 > 0:08:27Around one in ten fatalities occur on the hard shoulder,
0:08:27 > 0:08:30and in this case, the blown tyre is on the driver's side,
0:08:30 > 0:08:34perilously close to the passing traffic.
0:08:34 > 0:08:39He's so near to the hard shoulder that it'll be impossible
0:08:39 > 0:08:41to change it at the side of the road.
0:08:41 > 0:08:44At this time of night, if we put a lane closure out on this slip,
0:08:44 > 0:08:47it'd cause chaos, so the best...
0:08:47 > 0:08:51the best solution for everyone is if we can move this,
0:08:51 > 0:08:54it'll only take a couple of minutes to move it,
0:08:54 > 0:08:57whereas if we were going to do a wheel change, it could be up to half the night.
0:08:57 > 0:09:00It's going to inconvenience thousands of people.
0:09:00 > 0:09:02Traffic's just too busy.
0:09:02 > 0:09:04The chances of somebody getting struck on that offside
0:09:04 > 0:09:09is really high, so I'm just waiting to clear him out of the way.
0:09:09 > 0:09:13Closing both lanes will bring rush-hour traffic to a standstill
0:09:13 > 0:09:15but it's the best option.
0:09:15 > 0:09:20Only by getting the van off the A1 can safety be guaranteed.
0:09:20 > 0:09:24So let your dad know that we're going to be off at 37
0:09:24 > 0:09:25and if he comes...
0:09:25 > 0:09:29if he comes, get him to pull in front of us, not in front of you,
0:09:29 > 0:09:32- because he'll be in a live lane if he's in front of you.- Right.
0:09:32 > 0:09:34All right? That's what we're doing.
0:09:35 > 0:09:37Further up the carriageway,
0:09:37 > 0:09:41another patrol car is shutting down both lanes of the A1.
0:09:41 > 0:09:44Now the clock is ticking, because as the tailbacks grow,
0:09:44 > 0:09:46so does the risk of a pile-up.
0:09:46 > 0:09:48Right, here's the gap, look.
0:09:48 > 0:09:49No more traffic.
0:09:52 > 0:09:55We're all going to get in and we're going to move off nice and slow.
0:09:55 > 0:09:57- Take it as slow as you want.- Yeah.
0:09:57 > 0:10:02If for any reason the tyre comes off and it's in the road, we'll stop,
0:10:02 > 0:10:05we'll move the tyre off out the way, nice and steady,
0:10:05 > 0:10:07just slow down a bit and then we'll catch up to you
0:10:07 > 0:10:09and we'll come behind you, all right?
0:10:10 > 0:10:11Right, there's our car.
0:10:11 > 0:10:13You see him lit up? That means we're safe to move.
0:10:16 > 0:10:18With both lanes closed,
0:10:18 > 0:10:21the van can now move safely into an empty stretch of the road.
0:10:24 > 0:10:27And it soon becomes apparent what may have caused the tyre
0:10:27 > 0:10:28on the trailer to blow.
0:10:29 > 0:10:31Yeah, I think it's heavy.
0:10:31 > 0:10:33It's blown out for a reason.
0:10:33 > 0:10:35And there's a lot of weight on that trailer.
0:10:35 > 0:10:39The priority is getting the vehicle to safety.
0:10:39 > 0:10:42It's taken three minutes to get from the A1 to a side road
0:10:42 > 0:10:46and the traffic jam is now a mile long.
0:10:46 > 0:10:49Paul radios through for the road to be reopened.
0:10:49 > 0:10:50Alpha Charlie Lima 1-3.
0:10:50 > 0:10:54Vehicle is now clear of all live lanes
0:10:54 > 0:10:56and the log can be closed, over.
0:11:02 > 0:11:04It's not too bad. I mean, the tyre is knacked.
0:11:04 > 0:11:06The tyre is no good, but...
0:11:07 > 0:11:09He's got it off. There you go.
0:11:09 > 0:11:12I said he's as fast as a pit crew. Formula 1!
0:11:14 > 0:11:17By acting quickly, the traffic officers have prevented
0:11:17 > 0:11:20any accidents and kept the A1 moving.
0:11:21 > 0:11:24- Right, no worries then. Job's a good 'un.- Thanks for that.
0:11:24 > 0:11:27- Right, we'll see you later, then. - Cheers.- Thank you.
0:11:28 > 0:11:32Rob and Paul believe this A1 driver has had a close call,
0:11:32 > 0:11:35like all the other motorists who pass the scene.
0:11:35 > 0:11:37It was heavy, was that trailer,
0:11:37 > 0:11:40which is a potential for why the tyre blew.
0:11:40 > 0:11:42If the trailer's overweight,
0:11:42 > 0:11:45the tyre takes too much pressure, and that blows the tyres.
0:11:45 > 0:11:48The wheel could pop, it starts to get a wiggle on,
0:11:48 > 0:11:49overturns...
0:11:49 > 0:11:51Could cause carnage, that.
0:11:51 > 0:11:55If one or two of them wheels burst on the same side,
0:11:55 > 0:12:01that will overturn that trailer or, at the very minimum, spill the load
0:12:01 > 0:12:03across the whole motorway.
0:12:03 > 0:12:06And it's just... It's just unnecessary, really.
0:12:08 > 0:12:12It's been a busy late shift, and it's far from over.
0:12:16 > 0:12:19For Northumbria Police, the A1 is the main road in their area.
0:12:21 > 0:12:24One of those tasked with patrolling it is PC Alan Keenleyside.
0:12:26 > 0:12:29And tonight, his shift begins under the shadow of
0:12:29 > 0:12:31the North-East's most iconic landmark.
0:12:33 > 0:12:35There was some real issues when it was first put up
0:12:35 > 0:12:38that it may cause collisions by people looking at it, you know,
0:12:38 > 0:12:41but thankfully it hasn't been the case.
0:12:43 > 0:12:46Tonight, one of the busiest sections of the A1 around the city
0:12:46 > 0:12:48is being shut for maintenance.
0:12:48 > 0:12:51It's vital drivers abide by the rules to ensure
0:12:51 > 0:12:54the safety of the workers on the carriageway.
0:12:54 > 0:12:57To protect the road workers, the speed limit has been reduced to 50.
0:12:59 > 0:13:01But there are some drivers who seem
0:13:01 > 0:13:03to think the limit doesn't apply to them.
0:13:05 > 0:13:07Two cars have just sped past.
0:13:09 > 0:13:13The vehicle appears to be travelling above the speed limit, so we'll
0:13:13 > 0:13:16now progress after the vehicle, see if we can perform a speed check.
0:13:19 > 0:13:22One of the cars has pulled off at a slip road,
0:13:22 > 0:13:24but Alan is still pursuing the second driver.
0:13:24 > 0:13:27He suspects the two cars could have been racing.
0:13:29 > 0:13:31He's actually pulled into the slow lane,
0:13:31 > 0:13:34so I don't know if he's been rumbled, or he's going off here.
0:13:37 > 0:13:40As soon as the driver sees Alan's blue lights,
0:13:40 > 0:13:43he pulls off the A1, and stops his car.
0:13:45 > 0:13:49So, we'll have a stop and see what he wants to say for himself.
0:13:55 > 0:13:57I'm sitting on the slip road monitoring traffic speeds,
0:13:57 > 0:14:02and everyone's doing 50, and then you two drive past like that.
0:14:02 > 0:14:04Not acceptable, buddy.
0:14:04 > 0:14:08- What's the craic? Be honest.- I don't know him.- I'm not saying you do.
0:14:08 > 0:14:13- No, no.- You were going quite fast. I've recorded your speed at 61mph.
0:14:13 > 0:14:17All right? So if your average speed there was 61,
0:14:17 > 0:14:20what was your average speed when you were driving
0:14:20 > 0:14:21after that black car that went off,
0:14:21 > 0:14:24before I even started you on the speed check?
0:14:24 > 0:14:26It was higher than that. It was higher than that.
0:14:27 > 0:14:29Alan radios control.
0:14:29 > 0:14:33'Checking through the record, there's no stops and no points.'
0:14:35 > 0:14:37The driver's got a clean licence,
0:14:37 > 0:14:39but that could be about to change.
0:14:41 > 0:14:44Alan decides to show the driver his in-car recording
0:14:44 > 0:14:45of the incident.
0:14:46 > 0:14:48What I want you to do, when I press play,
0:14:48 > 0:14:51is look how fast these cars are going. All right?
0:14:51 > 0:14:55I want you to see what 50mph looks like. All right? See the car there?
0:14:55 > 0:14:58- Yeah.- 50mph?
0:14:58 > 0:15:01And there's you two.
0:15:01 > 0:15:04I'm going to warn you for your manner of driving tonight,
0:15:04 > 0:15:06on the grounds that you certainly
0:15:06 > 0:15:08wouldn't drive like that on your driving test,
0:15:08 > 0:15:11and if you did, you wouldn't be passing, all right?
0:15:11 > 0:15:13OK, I'll write this out for you
0:15:13 > 0:15:15and I'll give you your licence back
0:15:15 > 0:15:17and you'll be all right to go on your way.
0:15:17 > 0:15:20Warning the driver gives Alan more time to carry out
0:15:20 > 0:15:24further investigations to establish exactly how far over the limit
0:15:24 > 0:15:26the motorist was going.
0:15:28 > 0:15:31- Look after yourself. Drive carefully, man.- I will do.- See ya.
0:15:33 > 0:15:35For now, the driver is free to go,
0:15:35 > 0:15:37but he'll be hearing more from Alan
0:15:37 > 0:15:39once he's finished his investigation.
0:15:42 > 0:15:46Without doubt, the biggest hazard for drivers on the A1
0:15:46 > 0:15:48is other motorists.
0:15:48 > 0:15:52Every year, there are more than 200 cases of death by careless driving
0:15:52 > 0:15:55on Britain's roads.
0:15:55 > 0:15:59Highways England's CCTV system has captured many incidents...
0:16:00 > 0:16:04..like this case of a motorist who appears to be deliberately driving
0:16:04 > 0:16:08through a set of cones on a section of the highway just near to
0:16:08 > 0:16:10Scotch Corner in North Yorkshire.
0:16:10 > 0:16:13The driver continues down a closed-off section of the road,
0:16:13 > 0:16:16before he's stopped by workmen, and arrested by police.
0:16:18 > 0:16:21A decision was later taken not to charge the driver with any offence.
0:16:23 > 0:16:26It's an extreme example, but he's not the only culprit.
0:16:27 > 0:16:31To the north of Newcastle, PC Darren Lant is on a mission to
0:16:31 > 0:16:34crack down on the A1's careless drivers.
0:16:34 > 0:16:37There's different levels of careless, isn't there?
0:16:37 > 0:16:39There's something that's just a momentary lapse,
0:16:39 > 0:16:41that doesn't necessarily mean you're a bad driver,
0:16:41 > 0:16:44it just means at that particular time you've had a momentary lapse
0:16:44 > 0:16:46and done something you shouldn't have. But then you've got the top
0:16:46 > 0:16:49end of careless driver, which is bordering on dangerous driving.
0:16:52 > 0:16:54It's now almost 10am,
0:16:54 > 0:16:57and a driver has performed an extremely dangerous manoeuvre,
0:16:57 > 0:16:59just yards in front of Darren's patrol car.
0:17:02 > 0:17:05This guy, here, was clearly travelling north on the A1,
0:17:05 > 0:17:08and then suddenly decided he wanted to be off at the last minute...
0:17:09 > 0:17:14..and then shot across the solid white line of the hatched areas
0:17:14 > 0:17:15which are there.
0:17:15 > 0:17:17The solid line's there to stop people doing that.
0:17:17 > 0:17:18It's a hazard area.
0:17:19 > 0:17:22He came off at such a rapid pace, he was lucky not to lose control.
0:17:23 > 0:17:25So we're going to stop this gentleman
0:17:25 > 0:17:27and have a quick chat with him.
0:17:27 > 0:17:31On the A1, it's momentary decisions like this which can change lives.
0:17:36 > 0:17:37- Good morning, sir.- Morning.
0:17:37 > 0:17:39I can only assume that you missed your exit,
0:17:39 > 0:17:42or you thought you were going to miss it, which is why you shot
0:17:42 > 0:17:43across at the last minute?
0:17:43 > 0:17:45I remembered at the last second at the lights in Morpeth.
0:17:45 > 0:17:48All right, OK. Come and have a chat with me about two seconds
0:17:48 > 0:17:49in the car, please.
0:17:49 > 0:17:52Careless driving puts all other motorists at risk.
0:17:52 > 0:17:55It's an offence police take very seriously.
0:17:55 > 0:17:56I'm going to caution you.
0:17:56 > 0:17:59You don't have to say anything, but it may harm your defence if
0:17:59 > 0:18:02you don't mention when questioned something which you later rely on
0:18:02 > 0:18:04in court, and anything you do say may be given in evidence.
0:18:04 > 0:18:07You're not under arrest, OK? A lot of people hear that and think
0:18:07 > 0:18:08they're arrested. You're not. OK?
0:18:08 > 0:18:10However, the way you're driving there today,
0:18:10 > 0:18:13I'm sure you've probably just been watching it there,
0:18:13 > 0:18:15is clearly not of the standard required, OK?
0:18:18 > 0:18:20It was quite clearly a case of careless driving.
0:18:20 > 0:18:25This guy, here, OK, you've cut across the front of him,
0:18:25 > 0:18:28at around about 65, 70mph, you've cut in front of him,
0:18:28 > 0:18:31and you've entered the solid white line, you've entered the hatchings,
0:18:31 > 0:18:33then come out again, all right?
0:18:33 > 0:18:36In extreme cases, those found guilty of careless driving
0:18:36 > 0:18:40can receive disqualification, and an unlimited fine.
0:18:40 > 0:18:44I'm going to issue you with what's called a verbal notice of intended prosecution. OK?
0:18:44 > 0:18:46You don't have to say anything, but as I say, you've been cautioned,
0:18:46 > 0:18:49but I'm going to report you for consideration for the question of
0:18:49 > 0:18:52prosecuting you for the offence of careless driving, all right?
0:18:52 > 0:18:53So, you understand why I've stopped you?
0:18:53 > 0:18:56OK, no problem. What we'll do is we'll let you out,
0:18:56 > 0:18:58and you'll get some paperwork through the post in a couple
0:18:58 > 0:19:00of days' time or so, OK?
0:19:04 > 0:19:07OK, watch your way on out, take care.
0:19:07 > 0:19:10He admits that his driving was wrong,
0:19:10 > 0:19:12it was below the standard required,
0:19:12 > 0:19:14and that it was a stupid thing to do.
0:19:14 > 0:19:16He remembered at the last moment that there's a set of traffic
0:19:16 > 0:19:18lights up in Morpeth to where he is headed,
0:19:18 > 0:19:21and in order to try and avoid the traffic lights,
0:19:21 > 0:19:23he thought he would come off and come up this road,
0:19:23 > 0:19:26which is why he has pulled aggressively in front of that car,
0:19:26 > 0:19:28and shot across the solid white lines.
0:19:30 > 0:19:33To say how severe is it? It's on a sliding scale.
0:19:33 > 0:19:36That case, there, I think that's pretty bad.
0:19:36 > 0:19:39I think that incident, there, is pretty bad.
0:19:39 > 0:19:42We've got the wet roads, we've got the damp roads, you know,
0:19:42 > 0:19:45and he's travelling at speed, and he's made a very violent
0:19:45 > 0:19:47manoeuvre in front of another car and across a solid white line.
0:19:47 > 0:19:50It could've quite easily gone drastically wrong,
0:19:50 > 0:19:52he could have lost control, so I think that's quite a severe case
0:19:52 > 0:19:54of careless driving, that one.
0:19:57 > 0:20:01This driver is likely to be summoned to appear at his local magistrate's.
0:20:01 > 0:20:05It will be up to the courts to decide the right penalty to impose.
0:20:16 > 0:20:20In Doncaster, traffic officers Rob Larkin and Paul Day are battling
0:20:20 > 0:20:23treacherous conditions on the A1.
0:20:25 > 0:20:27Now they've been sent to check on an abandoned van.
0:20:29 > 0:20:32But it looks more like a job for Mulder and Scully.
0:20:34 > 0:20:38There could be a number of explanations why the van is here.
0:20:38 > 0:20:43One possibility is that it's been used to commit a crime, then dumped.
0:20:43 > 0:20:47But whatever the reason, it poses a danger to other motorists.
0:20:47 > 0:20:52So Paul radios his control centre to run a check on the vehicle.
0:20:52 > 0:20:56Alpha Charlie Echo 13, can I get a PNC on this vehicle, please?
0:20:56 > 0:20:58It is abandoned.
0:21:00 > 0:21:03It's locked, secure, it's displaying hazards,
0:21:03 > 0:21:05but it is on a narrow hard shoulder, over.
0:21:06 > 0:21:08A few minutes later, though,
0:21:08 > 0:21:13Paul finds the mystery has a more down-to-earth explanation.
0:21:13 > 0:21:15I can see somebody walking back down now with a can of fuel.
0:21:18 > 0:21:20- Hiya, boss.- Sorry.
0:21:20 > 0:21:22No, no problem.
0:21:22 > 0:21:24We're just waiting to see... What do you need?
0:21:25 > 0:21:28It's OK. Is it your vehicle?
0:21:28 > 0:21:30- Yeah.- Yeah, just out of fuel?
0:21:30 > 0:21:32OK.
0:21:32 > 0:21:36Every year, around 8,000 drivers run out of fuel on major roads
0:21:36 > 0:21:37in England.
0:21:37 > 0:21:38- OK?- Yeah.
0:21:38 > 0:21:42It's a common problem, but it carries a huge risk.
0:21:42 > 0:21:46The hard shoulder of the A1 is a precarious place to be.
0:21:46 > 0:21:49This is quite a regular occurrence, big van, run out of fuel,
0:21:49 > 0:21:51people trying to get to the fuel station.
0:21:52 > 0:21:55Although he's on the hard shoulder, as you can see now,
0:21:55 > 0:21:58they're all slowing down to have a look.
0:21:58 > 0:22:00You know, it's not the best place in the world.
0:22:00 > 0:22:04But at least now he has fuel, he can be on his way,
0:22:04 > 0:22:08but it seems this driver's not just run out of fuel,
0:22:08 > 0:22:10he's also run out of luck.
0:22:14 > 0:22:15Battery's flat.
0:22:16 > 0:22:20The driver, Robert, is having problems with his phone, too,
0:22:20 > 0:22:22but Paul helps him out.
0:22:22 > 0:22:23HE SPEAKS IN OWN LANGUAGE
0:22:26 > 0:22:27- OK?- Yeah.
0:22:30 > 0:22:32OK.
0:22:32 > 0:22:35There's a bit of a language barrier, so what I'm going to try and do
0:22:35 > 0:22:38is give him a few minutes just to organise some recovery
0:22:38 > 0:22:41or a friend to come, then I'm going to take his details,
0:22:41 > 0:22:42pass it to our control room,
0:22:42 > 0:22:45who will then phone him up and make sure.
0:22:45 > 0:22:47That gives us the opportunity to leave.
0:22:47 > 0:22:49We then tag it for a timescale to come back to it,
0:22:49 > 0:22:51to make sure it's gone.
0:22:53 > 0:22:55Hopefully, it'll be all sorted.
0:22:57 > 0:23:03I'm going to give you two hours to shift it, yeah?
0:23:03 > 0:23:06Two hours to move the car.
0:23:06 > 0:23:08No, no, it's OK, just so you know.
0:23:08 > 0:23:10I'm just telling you what we have to do.
0:23:10 > 0:23:18If after two hours this hasn't gone, I'm going to have it moved, OK? Yes?
0:23:18 > 0:23:21It can be a bit problematic at the side of the road just getting
0:23:21 > 0:23:25your point across, and plus, certain foreign nationals are
0:23:25 > 0:23:29a bit nervous of the fact of a uniformed presence being here.
0:23:30 > 0:23:32We try to be as sympathetic as possible,
0:23:32 > 0:23:35but you've got to get your point across, yeah?
0:23:36 > 0:23:37Just put this on.
0:23:39 > 0:23:41OK.
0:23:41 > 0:23:45In situations like this, Highways England's advice is that it's safer
0:23:45 > 0:23:48to stand away from a vehicle and the hard shoulder.
0:23:48 > 0:23:50OK? Two hours, yeah?
0:23:50 > 0:23:51Stay out.
0:23:53 > 0:23:55Right. Happy.
0:24:00 > 0:24:02A couple of hours later,
0:24:02 > 0:24:05Rob and Paul are back to check on Robert and his stricken van.
0:24:07 > 0:24:10They're hoping his friend has turned up with jump leads to start the
0:24:10 > 0:24:13vehicle, but they're prepared for the worst.
0:24:13 > 0:24:15He was on the tiger tail, wasn't he?
0:24:15 > 0:24:18- Yeah, he was, just right on it where it splits.- He's gone!
0:24:18 > 0:24:20I can't believe it, he's gone.
0:24:20 > 0:24:22- I would never...- No.
0:24:22 > 0:24:24I thought that was going to be there for good, that one.
0:24:26 > 0:24:30With the stricken van moved, it's a good result for Paul and Rob,
0:24:30 > 0:24:34and it means the A1 is now a much safer place to drive tonight.
0:24:34 > 0:24:37He's done everything we've asked of him, he's recovered his vehicle,
0:24:37 > 0:24:39everybody's happy, nobody's crashed into anybody,
0:24:39 > 0:24:41cones and lights, away we go.
0:24:51 > 0:24:54More than 110 miles north, in Newcastle,
0:24:54 > 0:24:58patrol officer PC Alan Keenleyside is continuing his investigations
0:24:58 > 0:25:03into a driver who was speeding towards roadworks along the A1.
0:25:03 > 0:25:05- That's him there. - That's the little red car, yeah.
0:25:05 > 0:25:08By working with the Newcastle CCTV team,
0:25:08 > 0:25:11they're able to calculate the length of time the driver was on the A1.
0:25:13 > 0:25:15- A picture paints a thousand words.- Yeah.
0:25:15 > 0:25:17Alan's also retracing the car's journey
0:25:17 > 0:25:21so he can precisely measure the distance the driver travelled.
0:25:22 > 0:25:253,821 metres.
0:25:28 > 0:25:32Back at the station, it's time to piece together all of the evidence.
0:25:34 > 0:25:38Four minutes 40 at that distance is 49mph.
0:25:38 > 0:25:43Two minutes 54 is clearly going to be a lot quicker,
0:25:43 > 0:25:45so let's run two minutes 54 into the equation.
0:25:48 > 0:25:55And that gives an average speed of 79.0344mph in a 50mph limit.
0:25:56 > 0:26:00With the motorist confirmed to be nearly 30mph over the speed limit,
0:26:00 > 0:26:05Alan's heading to speak to him about what action he intends to take.
0:26:05 > 0:26:08If we prosecute this driver through the courts or through the
0:26:08 > 0:26:11fixed-penalty system, this driver's going to lose his licence.
0:26:17 > 0:26:21We've timed your vehicle, and you are going...quick.
0:26:21 > 0:26:25Your average speed I've calculated at 79mph...
0:26:25 > 0:26:27- All right. - ..in a 50.
0:26:27 > 0:26:29One more mile an hour,
0:26:29 > 0:26:32and you probably would have ended up in court at that, all right?
0:26:33 > 0:26:35Because the driver has shown remorse,
0:26:35 > 0:26:39Alan has decided a more lenient penalty is needed on this occasion.
0:26:41 > 0:26:45This here is your offer of a course.
0:26:47 > 0:26:49It's an educational course, all right?
0:26:49 > 0:26:51And it's for careless driving,
0:26:51 > 0:26:53for changing attitudes. All right?
0:26:53 > 0:26:57Go on the course, have the right attitude, learn from it, all right?
0:26:57 > 0:27:00And come out of it a better driver. All right?
0:27:03 > 0:27:06Being pulled over was, like, a shock, to be honest,
0:27:06 > 0:27:11but, to be fair, I got caught. It's me driving like an idiot.
0:27:11 > 0:27:14Like he said, if I was doing one mile an hour over,
0:27:14 > 0:27:16then it would have been a court sentence, and I've accepted it,
0:27:16 > 0:27:19like. It's my own fault.
0:27:19 > 0:27:22Alan hopes it's the wake-up call this young driver needed.
0:27:24 > 0:27:27I'm satisfied, he has shown remorse to me there. Yeah,
0:27:27 > 0:27:31I really think I've made the right decision there, and as long as
0:27:31 > 0:27:35he goes on that course, he'll be staying out of court.
0:27:35 > 0:27:38If I can keep him safe and keep other members of the public safe
0:27:38 > 0:27:41using the A1 and the other roads in the area, then I've done my job.
0:27:49 > 0:27:53No further action was taken against the female driver who caused
0:27:53 > 0:27:55the accident near Newcastle.
0:27:55 > 0:27:59And the motorist who was stopped for careless driving on the A1 near
0:27:59 > 0:28:01Morpeth ended up attending a driver improvement course.