0:00:02 > 0:00:04The A1 - Britain's longest road...
0:00:05 > 0:00:09..stretching 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 > 0:00:21used 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 > 0:00:29But not all journeys go to plan.
0:00:32 > 0:00:34I thought, "I am going to lose my life."
0:00:34 > 0:00:36Cars are coming close.
0:00:36 > 0:00:38It is a 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 is 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 > 0:00:55..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 we've got the road closed, or...
0:01:01 > 0:01:03We don't know what's happened.
0:01:03 > 0:01:05..and traffic officers.
0:01:06 > 0:01:08Keep 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 > 0:01:30a runaway van crashes down an embankment...
0:01:30 > 0:01:33- Police are all in the slip, so... - We need to keep going.
0:01:33 > 0:01:36..and leaves the A1 in total gridlock.
0:01:38 > 0:01:41The race to get to a multiple crash near Newcastle.
0:01:41 > 0:01:44Injuries sustained in road traffic collisions
0:01:44 > 0:01:47are quite often life-changing.
0:01:47 > 0:01:52And the risks for road workers clearing up the A1's graffiti.
0:01:52 > 0:01:54We're right on the bend. It's very, very dangerous.
0:01:54 > 0:01:57I mean, you can hear the traffic going past us now.
0:02:03 > 0:02:05At nearly 400 miles long,
0:02:05 > 0:02:09the A1 runs through country more diverse than any other British road.
0:02:09 > 0:02:13From the heart of London, it heads north, past Peterborough,
0:02:13 > 0:02:17Grantham and the industrial heartlands of Leeds and Newcastle.
0:02:17 > 0:02:20In all, it sees 18 counties
0:02:20 > 0:02:23before it finally ends in the City of Edinburgh.
0:02:26 > 0:02:307.30am, rush hour, near Newcastle,
0:02:30 > 0:02:34and while thousands of commuters slowly edge their way to work,
0:02:34 > 0:02:38an emergency call means A1 patrol officer PC Alan Keenleyside
0:02:38 > 0:02:43needs to quickly jump the queue.
0:02:45 > 0:02:48At the moment, we're right at the start of
0:02:48 > 0:02:50morning rush hour on a Tuesday morning.
0:02:50 > 0:02:53It's two Celsius, we've got freezing fog,
0:02:53 > 0:02:56and we've just had a report that the A1 is blocked southbound.
0:02:59 > 0:03:03But it's what's blocking the road which is worrying Alan -
0:03:03 > 0:03:06there's been a three-car pile-up in the fast lane and the potential
0:03:06 > 0:03:08for injuries is massive.
0:03:08 > 0:03:13A real priority here is to get to the scene, to assess any injuries,
0:03:13 > 0:03:16and try to get this road opened as quickly as possible.
0:03:19 > 0:03:23My own personal fear is always the level of injury,
0:03:23 > 0:03:26that people aren't too badly injured. Cars can be replaced,
0:03:26 > 0:03:30vehicles can be replaced, people can't.
0:03:30 > 0:03:35Injuries sustained in road-traffic collisions are quite often
0:03:35 > 0:03:37life-changing and life-lasting.
0:03:39 > 0:03:42Alan's colleagues and firefighters are already at the scene.
0:03:44 > 0:03:48Two of the cars have crashed into each other in the fast lane,
0:03:48 > 0:03:52causing some serious damage, and a third vehicle, a silver Kia,
0:03:52 > 0:03:55has ended up 50 yards down the road.
0:03:57 > 0:04:00What we're looking at now is a collision, which is reasonably
0:04:00 > 0:04:01typical of rush-hour traffic.
0:04:01 > 0:04:04Three vehicles have been travelling in the fast lane.
0:04:04 > 0:04:06For some reason, the traffic has slowed in front.
0:04:06 > 0:04:08The Volvo has reacted to that, braking heavily.
0:04:08 > 0:04:12Then the Vauxhall Corsa brakes, pushing the Volvo forward
0:04:12 > 0:04:15into the third vehicle, which is a silver Kia.
0:04:15 > 0:04:18Minor damage to the Kia,
0:04:18 > 0:04:23quite significant damage to the rear of the Volvo and to the Corsa.
0:04:23 > 0:04:27Sometimes when you get brake fluid, oil, oil especially,
0:04:27 > 0:04:29it gets quite slippy, especially on a damp road surface,
0:04:29 > 0:04:33so we need to get some cleansing down as well.
0:04:33 > 0:04:36Business manager Lee Kerswell was driving his Volvo to his office
0:04:36 > 0:04:39in Durham when he collided with the car in front.
0:04:41 > 0:04:43I put my brakes on.
0:04:43 > 0:04:47The car just started to slide. I nudged him,
0:04:47 > 0:04:49and then all of a sudden there was a big impact from behind
0:04:49 > 0:04:53and the air bags and everything went off and then from there,
0:04:53 > 0:04:55everything started to go crazy.
0:04:55 > 0:04:58Lots of people, lots of blue flashing lights.
0:04:58 > 0:05:01Just glad everybody was OK, I think that's the first thing.
0:05:01 > 0:05:03It was quite an impact from behind.
0:05:03 > 0:05:05The car had gone underneath mine.
0:05:05 > 0:05:10The other car was being driven by hairdresser Kathleen Watson.
0:05:10 > 0:05:13I was just driving along, happily driving along, going to work.
0:05:13 > 0:05:15And the guy in front just put his brakes on
0:05:15 > 0:05:21and I slammed my brakes on, and the next minute, crashed, that's it.
0:05:21 > 0:05:23There was nothing...
0:05:23 > 0:05:27I couldn't see anything untoward that was wrong on the road.
0:05:27 > 0:05:30Just cannae believe it.
0:05:35 > 0:05:39Bit shocked, I'm shocked, just shocked...
0:05:39 > 0:05:40that it's happened.
0:05:42 > 0:05:44I've been driving for a lot of years and...
0:05:45 > 0:05:47..never had anything like this.
0:05:47 > 0:05:50Haven't even got a point on my licence or anything.
0:05:52 > 0:05:56With no-one injured, Alan's priority is to clear the carriageway.
0:05:59 > 0:06:00Can I have the keys...?
0:06:00 > 0:06:03Is this yours, is it? Do you mind if I have a go at trying to start it?
0:06:03 > 0:06:05- Go for it.- All right. It might do.
0:06:08 > 0:06:10And Alan's in luck.
0:06:17 > 0:06:20While the Volvo proves easy to move,
0:06:20 > 0:06:24there's little hope for Kathleen's car - it's a total write-off.
0:06:26 > 0:06:30Traffic's already stretching back six miles,
0:06:30 > 0:06:34and unless the car is moved, it could get a whole lot worse.
0:06:39 > 0:06:45Nearly seven billion miles are travelled on the A1 every year.
0:06:45 > 0:06:48With such a massive volume of traffic pounding the road,
0:06:48 > 0:06:52there's an army of workers dedicating to keeping the A1
0:06:52 > 0:06:55in tiptop condition.
0:06:55 > 0:06:58These caretakers of the road turn their hand to everything -
0:06:58 > 0:07:00from picking up litter...
0:07:02 > 0:07:04..to driving a gritter.
0:07:07 > 0:07:09And when the A1 cracks under the pressure...
0:07:09 > 0:07:13- Ready?- ..they're there to smooth things over.
0:07:17 > 0:07:18In County Durham,
0:07:18 > 0:07:21one of these teams is clocking on for their morning shift.
0:07:25 > 0:07:27At their depot just off the A1,
0:07:27 > 0:07:31Joe Wafer and Kev Taylor are preparing to take on a job
0:07:31 > 0:07:34which only a tin of masonry paint can solve.
0:07:35 > 0:07:38Whether it's vandalism or urban art,
0:07:38 > 0:07:41graffiti along the A1 is a real problem,
0:07:41 > 0:07:46with scores of incidents reported to Highways England every year.
0:07:46 > 0:07:48Hi, Kelvin. Sure.
0:07:48 > 0:07:51And during his seven years in the job,
0:07:51 > 0:07:52Joe has developed a critical eye.
0:07:55 > 0:07:59Most of the time, it's like an art type thing,
0:07:59 > 0:08:02people putting designs on, as you will.
0:08:02 > 0:08:04We have had graffiti with,
0:08:04 > 0:08:07"Jill, will you marry me?" and things like that,
0:08:07 > 0:08:10which is great for them, but, you know,
0:08:10 > 0:08:13it's not every Jill that comes up the network is deciding whether
0:08:13 > 0:08:15they're going to get married or not(!)
0:08:15 > 0:08:16So, it doesn't matter what graffiti it is,
0:08:16 > 0:08:20it's all got to be removed or overpainted.
0:08:20 > 0:08:25What people see as just a harmless bit of paint could turn out to be,
0:08:25 > 0:08:28you know, time-consuming and expensive to remove.
0:08:30 > 0:08:33And their job today is a huge one.
0:08:33 > 0:08:37They're tackling this sprawling eight-metre long section of graffiti
0:08:37 > 0:08:39under a motorway bridge near Bowburn.
0:08:41 > 0:08:45It's been freshly daubed on, but it's about to get another coat.
0:08:48 > 0:08:51To be quite honest, I've got better things to do with my time than
0:08:51 > 0:08:54actually come to a bridge and paint it for two or three hours.
0:08:54 > 0:08:55It's just one of those things.
0:08:55 > 0:08:59They paint it, we come out and paint over it.
0:08:59 > 0:09:01With Joe keeping an eye on the traffic,
0:09:01 > 0:09:05Kev gets to work with the masonry paint.
0:09:05 > 0:09:08For them, it's not just about getting rid of all the eyesores,
0:09:08 > 0:09:10but stopping accidents.
0:09:10 > 0:09:12We have to cover this up
0:09:12 > 0:09:14simply because the traffic that is passing,
0:09:14 > 0:09:16people tend to look at graffiti
0:09:16 > 0:09:20and they're obviously not concentrating on the road.
0:09:20 > 0:09:25So, we mask it off so it ends up grey and at a later stage,
0:09:25 > 0:09:29Highways England will bring in a company to remove it completely.
0:09:31 > 0:09:33There's a serious sense of deja vu.
0:09:33 > 0:09:36This is the sixth time they've repainted this bridge
0:09:36 > 0:09:38in the last year.
0:09:39 > 0:09:41Personally, I think it's a waste.
0:09:41 > 0:09:43I think it's a waste of time, money and effort.
0:09:43 > 0:09:46It's their type of art.
0:09:46 > 0:09:48To me, I'd sooner see a canvas hanging up in a museum.
0:09:51 > 0:09:55Even though the artist has painted his piece in an area easy to reach,
0:09:55 > 0:09:57it's still a step too far for Joe.
0:09:57 > 0:09:59I'll do some of the top stuff.
0:09:59 > 0:10:02I've got me colleague with us today.
0:10:02 > 0:10:05Kev's nickname is "the giraffe", and he can reach the high bits.
0:10:05 > 0:10:08See, I can't reach up there, Kev.
0:10:08 > 0:10:10I've got a higher standard, you see. I do all the heights.
0:10:10 > 0:10:12Kev's wife has just been on the phone.
0:10:12 > 0:10:14He's got to do a painting job when he gets home.
0:10:14 > 0:10:17Apparently, your kitchen needs painting, Kev.
0:10:17 > 0:10:19It's obvious Joe doesn't know me.
0:10:23 > 0:10:28After an hour, Joe and Kev have managed to conceal the graffiti.
0:10:28 > 0:10:31But with slogans being repainted regularly,
0:10:31 > 0:10:36they know it's likely they'll be back here, removing them again soon.
0:10:36 > 0:10:39As you can see, it is time-consuming.
0:10:40 > 0:10:41But it's got to be done.
0:10:41 > 0:10:43And hopefully,
0:10:43 > 0:10:46we won't be revisited here for a while.
0:10:49 > 0:10:53Now that is a work of art. Nice and clear.
0:10:53 > 0:10:56That's a face of pride, that.
0:10:56 > 0:10:58That's one for Highways England.
0:10:58 > 0:11:00The boys are back.
0:11:01 > 0:11:05However, their next paint job isn't going to be as straightforward,
0:11:05 > 0:11:07and they'll definitely need a head for heights.
0:11:11 > 0:11:14Just a few miles up the road in Newcastle,
0:11:14 > 0:11:18PC Alan Keenleyside is still trying to reopen his section of the A1.
0:11:22 > 0:11:26A three-car crash in the morning rush hour is causing traffic chaos.
0:11:28 > 0:11:30With just one lane moving,
0:11:30 > 0:11:32Alan is trying to clear the vehicles
0:11:32 > 0:11:35and reopen the road as quickly as possible.
0:11:36 > 0:11:40Right now, we're probably looking at around about five to six miles of
0:11:40 > 0:11:41slow-moving traffic behind us.
0:11:41 > 0:11:45So we're really moving as quickly as we can to get this cleared.
0:11:46 > 0:11:50Business manager Lee Kerswell, who was caught up in the crash,
0:11:50 > 0:11:53has taken the brunt of motorists' anger.
0:11:53 > 0:11:56We actually got quite a few people shouting abuse out the window,
0:11:56 > 0:11:58obscenities and that, because obviously,
0:11:58 > 0:12:01we deliberately crashed this morning, that was the aim,
0:12:01 > 0:12:03to spoil everybody's commute to work.
0:12:03 > 0:12:05It's quite disappointing.
0:12:05 > 0:12:07You know, somebody could have been seriously injured.
0:12:07 > 0:12:10And that's the kind of attitude we were getting.
0:12:10 > 0:12:13With the smashed-up Corsa still blocking the fast lane,
0:12:13 > 0:12:17it's going to need a police 4x4 to shift it.
0:12:17 > 0:12:19It's clearly going to move, cos we've got the power
0:12:19 > 0:12:21in this to pull it. But we need to do it safely,
0:12:21 > 0:12:24make sure we're not going to get right across the road
0:12:24 > 0:12:27and then a wheel is going to fall off.
0:12:27 > 0:12:30While Alan stops the frustrated commuters one last time,
0:12:30 > 0:12:33the car is finally dragged off the carriageway.
0:12:37 > 0:12:40And it's a race to clean up and get the road back to normal.
0:12:44 > 0:12:47We need to look at bits like this - if a member of the public
0:12:47 > 0:12:51comes along in the hours to come, on a motorcycle...
0:12:51 > 0:12:54sees these bits, they might react to it, and if they react,
0:12:54 > 0:12:56could cause a collision.
0:12:56 > 0:13:00Right, that's it, we're ready to reopen.
0:13:00 > 0:13:04It's taken 20 minutes to clear the accident.
0:13:04 > 0:13:05Now Alan and fellow officers
0:13:05 > 0:13:09have to deal with the people involved in the crash.
0:13:09 > 0:13:10- Are you all right?- Yeah.
0:13:12 > 0:13:16Part of this is making sure the drivers are breathalysed.
0:13:18 > 0:13:22I certainly don't suspect any of these drivers being impaired
0:13:22 > 0:13:26through alcohol or drugs, but in Northumbria,
0:13:26 > 0:13:28if you are involved in a road-traffic collision,
0:13:28 > 0:13:31you will be breathalysed as a matter of course.
0:13:38 > 0:13:40For the drivers caught up in the incident
0:13:40 > 0:13:42in sub-zero weather conditions,
0:13:42 > 0:13:44it's been a learning experience in more ways than one.
0:13:44 > 0:13:46It's a little bit chilly this morning.
0:13:46 > 0:13:48A good day not to have your coat with you.
0:13:48 > 0:13:50When you're defrosting your car, maybe it's a good thought to
0:13:50 > 0:13:52actually make sure you take your coat with you.
0:13:52 > 0:13:56Need to think that in future, always make sure there's a coat in the car.
0:13:59 > 0:14:02Traffic's finally flowing again past the scene,
0:14:02 > 0:14:06although the knock-on effects from this smash will ripple down the road
0:14:06 > 0:14:08for hours to come.
0:14:08 > 0:14:10That now, the A1, the monster that it is,
0:14:10 > 0:14:12will start to return to normal.
0:14:12 > 0:14:15Unfortunately, mornings like this
0:14:15 > 0:14:18will probably never fully recover from that incident.
0:14:20 > 0:14:23That backlog of traffic will remain in some form,
0:14:23 > 0:14:25but that's the harsh reality of it.
0:14:25 > 0:14:29One incident that's lasted 20-25 minutes has a knock-on effect
0:14:29 > 0:14:31for many, many hours.
0:14:36 > 0:14:38The average cost of a minor collision on the A1
0:14:38 > 0:14:42is around £15,000,
0:14:42 > 0:14:46so this three car pile-up, which held up rush-hour traffic for
0:14:46 > 0:14:50almost half an hour, could easily run into the tens of thousands.
0:14:53 > 0:14:57But with more than 500,000 vehicles using the A1 near Newcastle
0:14:57 > 0:15:00every week, it's not only police officers like Alan
0:15:00 > 0:15:03who keep motorists moving.
0:15:03 > 0:15:06When problems crop up, it's also the job of
0:15:06 > 0:15:10Highways England traffic officers Peter Senior and Scott Wilson
0:15:10 > 0:15:13to be in the right place at the right time.
0:15:27 > 0:15:29For motorists travelling along the road,
0:15:29 > 0:15:32a stray object can prove potentially deadly.
0:15:32 > 0:15:35There's a possibility, if someone strikes it,
0:15:35 > 0:15:37it could blow their tyres out, it could possibly throw it up
0:15:37 > 0:15:39and strike another vehicle.
0:15:39 > 0:15:42I've heard stories of the actual hook digging into the tyre
0:15:42 > 0:15:45and then the strap wrapping around the axle,
0:15:45 > 0:15:47or wrapping around the wheel.
0:15:48 > 0:15:51Unfortunately for Scott and Peter,
0:15:51 > 0:15:54this latest item is right in the middle of one of the fastest-flowing
0:15:54 > 0:15:57sections of the A1.
0:15:57 > 0:16:01To remove it safely means they're going to have to stop the traffic.
0:16:03 > 0:16:04You just find a gap, and we'll go for it.
0:16:04 > 0:16:08- Get it on now, mate. - You ready?- Yeah.
0:16:08 > 0:16:11Lights and "don't pass" displayed.
0:16:11 > 0:16:13Hotel, Alpha, Charlie, Lima, 4-1,
0:16:13 > 0:16:17we've now implemented the block just adjacent to Washington services,
0:16:17 > 0:16:19over.
0:16:19 > 0:16:21For traffic officers like Peter and Scott,
0:16:21 > 0:16:25the rolling road block is a well-rehearsed manoeuvre.
0:16:25 > 0:16:284-1, we've taken a position lane two.
0:16:28 > 0:16:30We have full compliance.
0:16:30 > 0:16:33Got traffic speed down to 5-0, over.
0:16:33 > 0:16:36It allows them to slow the traffic down
0:16:36 > 0:16:38and bring it to a halt just before the debris.
0:16:38 > 0:16:41We've got control of the traffic, but we've still got to be
0:16:41 > 0:16:45watching that traffic just to make sure no-one comes past.
0:16:45 > 0:16:48Just need to get control of the traffic off this slip now,
0:16:48 > 0:16:49which we've got.
0:16:49 > 0:16:50We'll let that van get away.
0:16:54 > 0:16:564-1, we've now got traffic at a stop.
0:16:56 > 0:17:00Just going to remove the debris now. Stand by.
0:17:00 > 0:17:02While Peter collects the lorry strap,
0:17:02 > 0:17:06Scott watches his back to make sure no vehicles jump the block.
0:17:06 > 0:17:08We'll be releasing it in a minute, mate. Won't be long.
0:17:08 > 0:17:10When traffic's at its peak,
0:17:10 > 0:17:14a road closure can cause a jam that builds out a mile a minute,
0:17:14 > 0:17:18so it's important the debris is cleared as quickly as possible.
0:17:18 > 0:17:21So, we'll just slowly run the traffic away
0:17:21 > 0:17:24now the debris is removed.
0:17:24 > 0:17:27Traffic has been held up for only three minutes -
0:17:27 > 0:17:30a small price to pay for keeping the A1 safe.
0:17:30 > 0:17:33Job well done. Job very well done.
0:17:36 > 0:17:40Traffic officers like Peter and Scott pick up nearly 2,500 obstacles
0:17:40 > 0:17:44from along the A1 every year.
0:17:44 > 0:17:47It's a tiny part of the role they play,
0:17:47 > 0:17:50but they still have their fair share of critics.
0:17:50 > 0:17:55Certain people maybe haven't perceived us well.
0:17:55 > 0:17:58Some celebrities have maybe mentioned us as Day-Glo Wombles,
0:17:58 > 0:18:00- or whatever.- Jeremy Clarkson.
0:18:00 > 0:18:05If them people could come out with us and see what we did...
0:18:05 > 0:18:08We don't just put cones out and close lanes for the fun of it,
0:18:08 > 0:18:11or for practice. We're doing it for a reason -
0:18:11 > 0:18:13to help people or to make something safe.
0:18:13 > 0:18:16I believe he has been offered to come out on a patrol with us
0:18:16 > 0:18:18and he declined.
0:18:21 > 0:18:24From stray animals to breakdowns and serious accidents,
0:18:24 > 0:18:28traffic officers deal with more than 10,000 incidents
0:18:28 > 0:18:31on the A1 every year.
0:18:31 > 0:18:34With such an unpredictable job on the front line,
0:18:34 > 0:18:38Peter and Scott know just how quickly things can change.
0:18:43 > 0:18:46It's rush hour on the outskirts of Gateshead,
0:18:46 > 0:18:49and reports are coming in of a major crash.
0:18:49 > 0:18:504-1.
0:18:59 > 0:19:021-1-3, yeah, received. We're just approaching junction 68 now,
0:19:02 > 0:19:04so we should have eyes on very shortly, over.
0:19:08 > 0:19:10Within seconds, they are on the scene.
0:19:10 > 0:19:12The police are there, all on the slip, so...
0:19:12 > 0:19:15He says it's crossing... Across the full carriageway.
0:19:15 > 0:19:18- Of the...?- Of the main carriageway, mate. Keep going.
0:19:22 > 0:19:25A van driver has plunged down an embankment
0:19:25 > 0:19:27and smashed into a lamp post,
0:19:27 > 0:19:31the only thing that stopped him ploughing across the motorway.
0:19:32 > 0:19:36He's being treated by paramedics for his injuries.
0:19:36 > 0:19:39We can confirm that police and ambulance are on scene.
0:19:41 > 0:19:44And with traffic already at a standstill,
0:19:44 > 0:19:47Peter and Scott will be pushed to the limit
0:19:47 > 0:19:48dealing with the aftermath.
0:19:57 > 0:20:00Managing an incident like this can be fraught with danger,
0:20:00 > 0:20:02but down the A1 in Durham,
0:20:02 > 0:20:06even a simple cleaning job can mean risking life and limb.
0:20:09 > 0:20:13Incident response workers Joe and Kev are continuing their crusade to
0:20:13 > 0:20:16rid the A1 of unsightly graffiti.
0:20:17 > 0:20:22It's a time-consuming and expensive job.
0:20:22 > 0:20:25Right, A1 in, northbound, between junction 61 and 62.
0:20:25 > 0:20:29This bridge has been riddled with slogans at every level.
0:20:30 > 0:20:32And you can see, just by the graffiti,
0:20:32 > 0:20:35we've got one on the wing wall, one on the wall itself,
0:20:35 > 0:20:38one on the wall there and one up on the wing wall, there.
0:20:38 > 0:20:42And there's actual graffiti on the bridge itself.
0:20:42 > 0:20:44So, for him to do that,
0:20:44 > 0:20:46he's either hung over the edge of the bridge
0:20:46 > 0:20:49or he's leant out from the side.
0:20:49 > 0:20:52It is dangerous, whichever way he's done that one.
0:20:53 > 0:21:00They want to get rid of a tag left by a prolific artist,
0:21:00 > 0:21:03but accessing it means going off-road.
0:21:07 > 0:21:11And once there, Joe's using the graffiti artist's favourite tool
0:21:11 > 0:21:13to blitz it.
0:21:13 > 0:21:16Well, I've got a hold of the railings.
0:21:16 > 0:21:19I've got a good hold on my feet, so I don't feel too bad.
0:21:19 > 0:21:21I'm not frightened of heights, or anything.
0:21:21 > 0:21:23We're never going to get it perfect,
0:21:23 > 0:21:26but what we'll do is we'll just blot out as much as we can.
0:21:26 > 0:21:28I mean, is it worth it?
0:21:32 > 0:21:38But the next cover-up job is in an even more dangerous position,
0:21:38 > 0:21:41just metres from speeding traffic.
0:21:42 > 0:21:44We're right on a bend.
0:21:44 > 0:21:47Heavy traffic nine metres away from the lane.
0:21:47 > 0:21:49It's very, very dangerous.
0:21:49 > 0:21:55I mean, you can hear the traffic going past us now.
0:21:55 > 0:21:58A job like this needs teamwork and trust.
0:21:58 > 0:22:01Start from here and work our way that way.
0:22:04 > 0:22:09While Kev blitzes the graffiti, Joe acts as their eyes and ears.
0:22:14 > 0:22:18If you don't have a lookout system, we've got nothing.
0:22:18 > 0:22:21We won't know anything is happening until the last moment.
0:22:21 > 0:22:24But if I've seen a car coming down the hard shoulder, I can tell Kev,
0:22:24 > 0:22:29so it's just like an early warning system.
0:22:29 > 0:22:31If a vehicle is coming that way, you would head that way
0:22:31 > 0:22:33and get round the corner as quick as you can.
0:22:33 > 0:22:35But with the sun dropping fast,
0:22:35 > 0:22:39the situation is growing riskier with every passing minute.
0:22:39 > 0:22:40This is under the shade.
0:22:40 > 0:22:43The drivers are coming from strong sunlight farther up the road,
0:22:43 > 0:22:46so it's getting to the point of the day now where we don't really want
0:22:46 > 0:22:49to be on a corner on a hard shoulder.
0:22:50 > 0:22:53We've got a large load coming down the motorway now.
0:22:53 > 0:22:55Luckily enough, he's moved across.
0:22:57 > 0:23:01If he can't get across, his overhang might be into the hard shoulder.
0:23:03 > 0:23:04Luckily enough, we're OK, there.
0:23:04 > 0:23:06But this is the sort of thing that happens.
0:23:08 > 0:23:11With the light too low to continue,
0:23:11 > 0:23:14Joe and Kev will return tomorrow to finish the job.
0:23:18 > 0:23:21But with dozens of cases a year to tackle,
0:23:21 > 0:23:24their war on A1 graffiti goes on.
0:23:28 > 0:23:31Nearly 20 miles north on the A1 near Newcastle,
0:23:31 > 0:23:35the emergency services have a much more serious battle on their hands.
0:23:35 > 0:23:38SIREN WAILS
0:23:38 > 0:23:42This van has careered down a grass bank and smashed into a lamp post,
0:23:42 > 0:23:46knocking it across two lanes of the road.
0:23:48 > 0:23:52Traffic officers Peter Senior and Scott Wilson are battling through
0:23:52 > 0:23:54the traffic to get to the incident.
0:23:54 > 0:23:57We can position our vehicle in the middle of the road.
0:23:57 > 0:24:01The traffic will make attempts to get out of our way and let us
0:24:01 > 0:24:05filter through the middle. What you've got to be watching for now,
0:24:05 > 0:24:07though, is the driver who doesn't see you coming.
0:24:09 > 0:24:10A mile down the road,
0:24:10 > 0:24:15police and firefighters are trying to work out how this van ended up in
0:24:15 > 0:24:16such a bizarre position.
0:24:16 > 0:24:18DISTANT SIRENS WAIL
0:24:21 > 0:24:26Amazingly, motorcycle patrol officer Ian Scott was just metres away when
0:24:26 > 0:24:29the van came plunging down the bank.
0:24:29 > 0:24:31It started to come through the traffic.
0:24:31 > 0:24:34As I was coming through, this white van just came down the slip,
0:24:34 > 0:24:37hit the lamp post. It just blocked all three lanes off.
0:24:37 > 0:24:38So, everybody just stopped.
0:24:38 > 0:24:40It didn't actually clip any cars?
0:24:40 > 0:24:42- No, it didn't.- How lucky is that?
0:24:42 > 0:24:45And at the time, this was three lanes of solid traffic,
0:24:45 > 0:24:49so I don't know how the lamp post didn't hit anything.
0:24:49 > 0:24:53Paramedics are treating the driver for his injuries.
0:24:53 > 0:24:56Police don't know yet what caused the accident,
0:24:56 > 0:24:58but it's already had a massive impact,
0:24:58 > 0:25:01causing five miles of tailbacks.
0:25:03 > 0:25:05With Scott and Peter now on the scene,
0:25:05 > 0:25:10they've got to find a way of getting thousands of vehicles safely past.
0:25:14 > 0:25:16The police have sorted the lamp post that was
0:25:16 > 0:25:19across lanes one and two. We're going to move everything that is
0:25:19 > 0:25:21currently in lane two into lane one,
0:25:21 > 0:25:25so we can open lanes two and three, and help traffic keep flowing by.
0:25:29 > 0:25:32Opening another lane should halve the problem.
0:25:32 > 0:25:34So, now we've got two lanes of traffic available
0:25:34 > 0:25:36for traffic to use.
0:25:36 > 0:25:39It's just, they are a bit like sheep following each other at the moment,
0:25:39 > 0:25:40they're just using lane three.
0:25:40 > 0:25:43But once they've realised we've adjusted things,
0:25:43 > 0:25:44they'll start dropping in.
0:25:44 > 0:25:47We'll get a higher volume of traffic past the scene.
0:25:49 > 0:25:52Scott is keen to discover just how the van has managed to end up in
0:25:52 > 0:25:55such a bizarre position.
0:25:55 > 0:25:59He appears to have gone up the V part where the two barriers are.
0:25:59 > 0:26:02That's launched him in between the two posts.
0:26:02 > 0:26:03I think he's been a bit lucky.
0:26:03 > 0:26:05He only seems to have a cut on his nose,
0:26:05 > 0:26:07and he's saying he's got a few neck problems now,
0:26:07 > 0:26:10but it could've been a lot more serious than what it actually
0:26:10 > 0:26:12appears to be at the minute.
0:26:14 > 0:26:15It's been nearly an hour
0:26:15 > 0:26:18since the crash brought the A1 to a standstill.
0:26:22 > 0:26:25But finally, with the inside lane cleared,
0:26:25 > 0:26:28Scott and Peter can fully reopen the road.
0:26:40 > 0:26:43Hotel, Alpha, Charlie, Lima, 4-1, to Charlie, Tango, 4-1.
0:26:43 > 0:26:45You can release the block. Our ETM's been taken in
0:26:45 > 0:26:47and we've left the scene, over.
0:26:48 > 0:26:52The stranded van will be dealt with later by a recovery team.
0:26:54 > 0:26:57It's been a busy and varied shift for the pair,
0:26:57 > 0:26:59which deserves a reward.
0:27:01 > 0:27:05So, that was a job that we weren't expecting on a Friday, Pete.
0:27:05 > 0:27:09I think it's about time for a kebab to get my fitness levels back up.
0:27:09 > 0:27:11Get them calories back into you.
0:27:11 > 0:27:14Peter's doner is going to have to be delayed, though,
0:27:14 > 0:27:17because even at the end of the busiest shifts,
0:27:17 > 0:27:19the routine jobs still need doing.
0:27:21 > 0:27:24They way we work as a team, you know, it's all down to teamwork.
0:27:24 > 0:27:26Scott does the washing and I just have a look
0:27:26 > 0:27:29to make sure he's done it right.
0:27:29 > 0:27:31It's cos I'm still younger, that's what it is.
0:27:31 > 0:27:33I don't want him to wear himself out.
0:27:33 > 0:27:35The youngest always cleans the car.
0:27:35 > 0:27:37I know I look a bit younger than him, but...
0:27:37 > 0:27:39SCOTT LAUGHS
0:27:46 > 0:27:49The van driver was later questioned by police,
0:27:49 > 0:27:51but no further action was taken.
0:27:53 > 0:27:56And after returning to the bridge for a second day,
0:27:56 > 0:27:59Joe finally covered up all of the graffiti.
0:27:59 > 0:28:02Hopefully, I won't be back again.