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 > 0:00:21used by hundreds of thousands of vehicles every day.
0:00:21 > 0:00:25We're going southbound down the A1 on the northbound carriageway.
0:00:27 > 0:00:29But not all journeys go to plan.
0:00:29 > 0:00:31TYRES SCREECH, THUD
0:00:32 > 0:00:35I thought, "I'm going to lose my life."
0:00:35 > 0:00:39Cars are coming close. It is the dangerous place to be.
0:00:39 > 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.
0:00:48 > 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 if they've got the road closed,
0:01:01 > 0:01:02we don't know what happened.
0:01:02 > 0:01:04..and traffic officers.
0:01:05 > 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.
0:01:13 > 0:01:14CAR HORN BLARES
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 > 0:01:29the fight to cut a woman free from her car...
0:01:29 > 0:01:31Don't panic, darling.
0:01:31 > 0:01:33..without causing her further injury.
0:01:33 > 0:01:36Keep your head as still as possible.
0:01:36 > 0:01:39A motorist accused of drink-driving...
0:01:39 > 0:01:41Have you had any alcohol in the last 20 minutes?
0:01:41 > 0:01:43..is left high and dry...
0:01:43 > 0:01:47There's a high probability that his alcohol level is going up.
0:01:48 > 0:01:53..and monster machines on the march down the Great North Road.
0:01:53 > 0:01:55Travelling at 50mph, the wind will just get
0:01:55 > 0:01:57under them and blow them up.
0:02:01 > 0:02:05Of the 10,000 incidents tackled by Highways England traffic officers
0:02:05 > 0:02:10on the A1 every year, one in five is an accident.
0:02:10 > 0:02:13One of the busiest parts of the road is a two-lane stretch
0:02:13 > 0:02:15between Doncaster and Ferrybridge.
0:02:20 > 0:02:23It's 7.40 on a Friday evening...
0:02:25 > 0:02:27..and Paul Day and Rob Larkin
0:02:27 > 0:02:30are responding to a call about an incident -
0:02:30 > 0:02:32but so far, they've few details to go on.
0:02:34 > 0:02:37The nature of the job is not known yet,
0:02:37 > 0:02:39but the cameras can see hazard lights,
0:02:39 > 0:02:41traffic's moving very slowly
0:02:41 > 0:02:43and indicating round an incident,
0:02:43 > 0:02:45so at the minute we're just going in blind, really.
0:02:47 > 0:02:51With very little information and no idea how serious the call is,
0:02:51 > 0:02:53Paul and Rob need to investigate quickly.
0:02:55 > 0:02:57It could be anything, this, from a medical emergency...
0:02:57 > 0:03:00- Could be just a flat tyre. - It could be just a flat tyre.
0:03:00 > 0:03:03It could be anything minor from something just broken down
0:03:03 > 0:03:05to somebody being run over, for instance.
0:03:07 > 0:03:08As they get closer,
0:03:08 > 0:03:11the build-up of traffic suggests there's a serious incident.
0:03:14 > 0:03:15This is now an emergency.
0:03:18 > 0:03:19Get out t'way.
0:03:19 > 0:03:24And more information comes through about what lies ahead...
0:03:24 > 0:03:26Three-vehicle RTC reported.
0:03:26 > 0:03:27Ambulance en route.
0:03:32 > 0:03:35Rob and Paul are the first emergency team to arrive.
0:03:35 > 0:03:37It's a three-car pile-up.
0:03:39 > 0:03:42A woman who was driving one of the cars
0:03:42 > 0:03:44has what could be a serious injury.
0:03:45 > 0:03:4826-year-old female, conscious and breathing, complaining of neck pain.
0:03:48 > 0:03:50I'm trying to keep her head very still.
0:03:54 > 0:03:55Paul's taking no chances
0:03:55 > 0:03:58and immediately immobilises the woman's neck.
0:04:01 > 0:04:05He must keep her as still as possible until the medics arrive.
0:04:05 > 0:04:07Still no pain? Not much pain?
0:04:07 > 0:04:09INDISTINCT REPLY
0:04:09 > 0:04:10Say again?
0:04:10 > 0:04:12Still experiencing pain.
0:04:14 > 0:04:16I think there was a queue of vehicles
0:04:16 > 0:04:19in front of me which was slowing down.
0:04:19 > 0:04:23As I was slowing down I just heard a bang from the back of my car,
0:04:23 > 0:04:27and my wife just shouted...
0:04:27 > 0:04:29"Oh, we've been hit."
0:04:29 > 0:04:32Looked like there was a pile-up of vehicles behind me.
0:04:32 > 0:04:36Then I realised that the lady right behind me,
0:04:36 > 0:04:40she was in great pain and holding her neck.
0:04:42 > 0:04:44While Paul attends to the injured driver,
0:04:44 > 0:04:47Rob needs to protect everyone at the scene.
0:04:47 > 0:04:51It's now an agonising wait for other emergency services to arrive.
0:04:53 > 0:04:56I've got a lane two closure out, so the scene is protected.
0:04:56 > 0:04:59From first impression, it looks like somebody's slowed down
0:04:59 > 0:05:01and they've all bumped into each other.
0:05:01 > 0:05:05With a potential serious spinal injury on his hands,
0:05:05 > 0:05:09Paul knows it may be necessary to cut the lady out of the vehicle.
0:05:09 > 0:05:10The fire brigade are en route, so...
0:05:10 > 0:05:13If they're needed. Hopefully they won't be.
0:05:13 > 0:05:14They might put a collar on
0:05:14 > 0:05:17and then you might be a bit better to get out yourself, OK?
0:05:19 > 0:05:21For someone on the scene, though,
0:05:21 > 0:05:24this whole process is taking too long.
0:05:24 > 0:05:26Who's called a taxi?
0:05:26 > 0:05:29Incredibly, one of the passengers has rung for a cab,
0:05:29 > 0:05:32as she doesn't want to be late for work.
0:05:32 > 0:05:34Oh, my God. Call a taxi to a bloomin' accident scene.
0:05:37 > 0:05:39Thankfully, minutes later,
0:05:39 > 0:05:44the paramedics arrive and begin to urgently assess the injured woman.
0:05:44 > 0:05:47I want you to keep your head as still as you can, OK?
0:05:50 > 0:05:53First of all, the pain was in the middle of her neck.
0:05:53 > 0:05:54It's now moved,
0:05:54 > 0:05:57which is why I took the decision to immobilise her C spine.
0:05:57 > 0:06:01She's always been conscious and talking, but, yeah...
0:06:01 > 0:06:04It's looking a little bit more dramatic than it first seemed.
0:06:04 > 0:06:06With the Fire Service arriving,
0:06:06 > 0:06:10there are now a dozen emergency service personnel on the scene
0:06:10 > 0:06:15and a busy lane of Friday night traffic still thundering past.
0:06:15 > 0:06:17Do you want us to stop that traffic?
0:06:17 > 0:06:18Rob and Paul have got to close
0:06:18 > 0:06:20the whole of the northbound carriageway of the A1
0:06:20 > 0:06:23while the team gets to work.
0:06:26 > 0:06:28With the woman in considerable pain,
0:06:28 > 0:06:31they need to rescue her as soon as possible.
0:06:31 > 0:06:34But the big question is - how?
0:06:38 > 0:06:41More than 200 miles north near Edinburgh,
0:06:41 > 0:06:44it's the job of Police Scotland officers to patrol
0:06:44 > 0:06:46a very different section of the A1.
0:06:53 > 0:06:55Just outside Tranent,
0:06:55 > 0:06:57PCs Stewart Logan and Mike Nash
0:06:57 > 0:06:59have spotted a driver who's causing concern.
0:07:02 > 0:07:05Our attention was drawn just to this car that we've overtaken.
0:07:05 > 0:07:07It was going awful slow.
0:07:07 > 0:07:10And we've passed it, the driver is not wearing his seat belt
0:07:10 > 0:07:14so we're going to get him in this lay-by here.
0:07:28 > 0:07:30Hello, sir.
0:07:30 > 0:07:32The reason we've stopped you today is, when we overtook you,
0:07:32 > 0:07:34you weren't wearing your seat belt, OK?
0:07:34 > 0:07:36I wonder why that was.
0:07:36 > 0:07:40You're driving on a 70mph road with no seat belt on.
0:07:42 > 0:07:46It's not very good, OK? Do you have your licence with you today, sir?
0:07:46 > 0:07:49Stewart runs checks on the vehicle,
0:07:49 > 0:07:52but has his suspicions about the driver.
0:07:52 > 0:07:55I can't quite deduce if the smell, if it's an alcohol smell
0:07:55 > 0:07:58or something other in the car,
0:07:58 > 0:08:00so we'll do a breath test on him
0:08:00 > 0:08:03just now, that'll determine whether it is that or not.
0:08:03 > 0:08:05Have you had any alcohol in the last 20 minutes?
0:08:05 > 0:08:09OK, I'll check what time we stopped you and go from there.
0:08:09 > 0:08:12It's important in these circumstances that we confirm
0:08:12 > 0:08:15when the person has last consumed alcohol,
0:08:15 > 0:08:17because you have an illegal arrest, essentially,
0:08:17 > 0:08:19if you breath-test a person too early.
0:08:20 > 0:08:22He's had two pints.
0:08:22 > 0:08:24In Scotland, two pints will put
0:08:24 > 0:08:28the average Joe Public over the limit.
0:08:28 > 0:08:30My feeling is that, eh,
0:08:30 > 0:08:32I think he's going to fail.
0:08:32 > 0:08:35Time to see if Stewart's prediction is right...
0:08:35 > 0:08:38You blow into it until I tell you to stop.
0:08:38 > 0:08:40You don't need to blow your socks off.
0:08:40 > 0:08:41Just a nice, steady breath, OK?
0:08:41 > 0:08:45When you're ready. Keep going, keep going, keep going.
0:08:45 > 0:08:46Stop - that's grand.
0:08:46 > 0:08:48..but the result is surprising.
0:08:51 > 0:08:53You are absolutely on the nail.
0:08:53 > 0:08:57Basically, one microgram more and you would be arrested.
0:08:59 > 0:09:02OK? The danger you have, sir,
0:09:02 > 0:09:07is that if you've only had alcohol in the last 20 minutes or so,
0:09:07 > 0:09:12your alcohol level may be increasing within your body.
0:09:13 > 0:09:16It means Stewart wants to try and keep the driver off the road
0:09:16 > 0:09:18for the next few hours.
0:09:18 > 0:09:22We can't legally stop him driving because he theoretically
0:09:22 > 0:09:24hasn't committed the offence yet.
0:09:26 > 0:09:30However, given how recently he's consumed alcohol,
0:09:30 > 0:09:34there's a high probability that his alcohol level is going up.
0:09:35 > 0:09:39We have advised him that it would be strongly recommended
0:09:39 > 0:09:43that he doesn't drive any longer for a period of time.
0:09:45 > 0:09:46With the driver compliant,
0:09:46 > 0:09:50Stewart gets him and his car off the A1 to the nearest town.
0:09:53 > 0:09:56It's over to you. You make the judgment call
0:09:56 > 0:09:59when you feel that you are in a better state,
0:09:59 > 0:10:02but I would certainly give it at least a couple of hours
0:10:02 > 0:10:05before you take to the wheel again.
0:10:05 > 0:10:09OK? That's you, all right? All the best. Take care. Bye-bye.
0:10:09 > 0:10:12For the driver, it's been a close shave.
0:10:12 > 0:10:16He was doing approximately 40mph in a 70mph limit,
0:10:16 > 0:10:20which isn't an offence, but it just draws attention to you.
0:10:20 > 0:10:22We were right with our suspicion.
0:10:22 > 0:10:25He was just lucky enough,
0:10:25 > 0:10:28very, very lucky, that he didn't fail the roadside.
0:10:34 > 0:10:36As a 400-mile super highway linking
0:10:36 > 0:10:38the capitals of Edinburgh and London,
0:10:38 > 0:10:43the A1 carries hundreds of thousands of vehicles every day,
0:10:43 > 0:10:48from mobile homes to boats and wind turbines.
0:10:48 > 0:10:52The road is a vital artery to ferry loads of all shapes and sizes
0:10:52 > 0:10:54up and down the country.
0:10:55 > 0:11:00In Nottinghamshire, another monster mission is about to get under way.
0:11:03 > 0:11:08More than 20 huge farm machines are being transported down the A1
0:11:08 > 0:11:12to the country's top show for agricultural equipment.
0:11:12 > 0:11:15It's a journey which has been a whole year in the planning.
0:11:15 > 0:11:19- Large square baler, ready to go. - Yeah, ready to go.
0:11:19 > 0:11:20And even for the team at one of
0:11:20 > 0:11:22the world's largest farm machinery companies,
0:11:22 > 0:11:24it's a gigantic challenge.
0:11:26 > 0:11:29Coordinating the operation is Nicky McKenzie.
0:11:29 > 0:11:32Our plan for today is to have 11 loads.
0:11:32 > 0:11:35So we've got six trucks that will be going back and forth up the A1.
0:11:37 > 0:11:41With 40,000 farmers from all over the world expected at the show,
0:11:41 > 0:11:43every machine needs to look its best.
0:11:44 > 0:11:46For marketing manager Chris Wiltshire,
0:11:46 > 0:11:50it's a great opportunity to showcase their whole fleet.
0:11:52 > 0:11:54We take everything from our small tractors,
0:11:54 > 0:11:59with a starting price of around the £40,000 mark,
0:11:59 > 0:12:02all the way through to our largest combines
0:12:02 > 0:12:05that can be anything up to £400,000.
0:12:06 > 0:12:11The first to be loaded onto the six trucks are the big hitters.
0:12:11 > 0:12:14These beasts will be the centrepiece of the display,
0:12:14 > 0:12:18so it's vital they arrive at the showground by lunchtime
0:12:18 > 0:12:21so they can be manoeuvred into place...
0:12:22 > 0:12:23It's really time-critical
0:12:23 > 0:12:27to ensure that we get our machines in the right order
0:12:27 > 0:12:29so we can start building our stand in the right order.
0:12:29 > 0:12:31Bit more.
0:12:32 > 0:12:37..and already, it looks like today's weather could be a problem.
0:12:37 > 0:12:38If there's a lot of crosswind,
0:12:38 > 0:12:42the guys will just have to make sure that the chains are really secure
0:12:42 > 0:12:44and just double-check everything.
0:12:44 > 0:12:47If it gets too windy, sometimes they can't travel,
0:12:47 > 0:12:48because it's not safe.
0:12:50 > 0:12:53Dave Shipman, who will be leading the first convoy,
0:12:53 > 0:12:57needs to make sure everything is securely strapped down.
0:12:57 > 0:12:59The sort of things like panels on
0:12:59 > 0:13:02the side of balers, combine side panels.
0:13:02 > 0:13:04Obviously we're travelling at 50mph,
0:13:04 > 0:13:07the wind will just get under them and blow them up.
0:13:07 > 0:13:11It's just a case of making sure everything's really battened down.
0:13:12 > 0:13:15At nearly four metres wide in places,
0:13:15 > 0:13:19even loading these agricultural monsters is precarious.
0:13:20 > 0:13:25This one actually overhangs quite a bit, the tyres overhang the trailer.
0:13:25 > 0:13:31Even for this experienced team, it's going to be a big challenge.
0:13:32 > 0:13:36No hiccups. The machines are all good to go.
0:13:38 > 0:13:40I don't know what it's going to be like down the other end.
0:13:40 > 0:13:44It can be absolute chaos, but we won't know until we get there.
0:13:46 > 0:13:52Dave and his six low-loaders are finally heading to Peterborough,
0:13:52 > 0:13:57and the A1 is about to play host to this heavyweight convoy.
0:13:57 > 0:13:59Going to go east on the A52 to the A1.
0:13:59 > 0:14:02Join the A1 down to the Peterborough showground.
0:14:04 > 0:14:06They're on a tight schedule,
0:14:06 > 0:14:09so Dave knows everything needs to go without a hitch.
0:14:11 > 0:14:14The guys from John Deere have put a bit of pressure on us
0:14:14 > 0:14:17to get them down there. They're waiting down there for us.
0:14:18 > 0:14:21They need to get these machines into the marquee
0:14:21 > 0:14:24and get the marquee built up and finished around the machines.
0:14:27 > 0:14:30And Dave's only half an hour into the journey when there's an issue.
0:14:33 > 0:14:36Erm, I don't know if some of the guys have got a problem,
0:14:36 > 0:14:39but they're not behind me at the moment.
0:14:40 > 0:14:43I don't know how far they are behind me.
0:14:44 > 0:14:50He's about to hit the A1, but seems to have lost the rest of the convoy.
0:14:50 > 0:14:52I don't know where the guys have got to.
0:14:57 > 0:14:58Are you guys coming?
0:15:02 > 0:15:07A row of giant farm machines is hardly a needle in a haystack.
0:15:07 > 0:15:09Mark? Ryan? Anybody? Can you hear me?
0:15:12 > 0:15:15But if Dave doesn't find them soon,
0:15:15 > 0:15:18his tight schedule will be in trouble.
0:15:18 > 0:15:20I've no idea where they are.
0:15:27 > 0:15:29More than 60 miles north,
0:15:29 > 0:15:32the A1 is in gridlock, and the emergency services
0:15:32 > 0:15:35are dealing with a much more serious crisis.
0:15:38 > 0:15:40Traffic officers Paul Day and Rob Larkin
0:15:40 > 0:15:42are still sorting out a multi-car pile-up
0:15:42 > 0:15:47involving a woman with a potentially serious spinal injury.
0:15:47 > 0:15:49- Do you want some more lights or are you all right?- Fine.
0:15:50 > 0:15:54They've been forced to shut the whole of the northbound carriageway
0:15:54 > 0:15:56while they work out how to free her.
0:15:58 > 0:16:01As you can see, there's a lot of equipment, a lot of people,
0:16:01 > 0:16:03which is why traffic is stopped behind us.
0:16:03 > 0:16:05That gives a big, safe working area for everybody.
0:16:09 > 0:16:11The injured woman has now been immobile in her car
0:16:11 > 0:16:13for over an hour.
0:16:13 > 0:16:16It's imperative they make a decision on how to move her.
0:16:19 > 0:16:23The lady is now having her C spine immobilised by the paramedic,
0:16:23 > 0:16:26and because of the way the injury has presented,
0:16:26 > 0:16:30the fire brigade are going to have to extract her with the roof off.
0:16:31 > 0:16:35Neck pain can be an indicator of life-changing injuries,
0:16:35 > 0:16:40so medics want the woman to be lifted on a spinal board.
0:16:40 > 0:16:43Don't panic, darling. Just keep your head as still as possible.
0:16:45 > 0:16:47After the windscreen is out,
0:16:47 > 0:16:50they use the jaws of life to remove the roof.
0:16:50 > 0:16:52Lots of noise. Don't worry.
0:16:58 > 0:17:00The ambulance is just here.
0:17:09 > 0:17:11With the roof finally off,
0:17:11 > 0:17:14it takes six firefighters and five paramedics
0:17:14 > 0:17:16to safely move the casualty
0:17:16 > 0:17:19from her car and into the waiting ambulance.
0:17:21 > 0:17:23Just letting you know an update.
0:17:23 > 0:17:24The casualty is now out of the vehicle
0:17:24 > 0:17:27and the fire brigade are packing away.
0:17:29 > 0:17:31While the teams have been working to free the driver,
0:17:31 > 0:17:34miles of static traffic has been building.
0:17:36 > 0:17:39So, as the ambulance rushes to a nearby hospital,
0:17:39 > 0:17:42the pressure is now on to get the carriageway clear
0:17:42 > 0:17:44and everything moving again.
0:17:44 > 0:17:47It's an inconvenience to t'public, that's just a given.
0:17:47 > 0:17:49You can't do anything about that.
0:17:49 > 0:17:51It's been slightly bigger than we expected at first,
0:17:51 > 0:17:54so we've had to stop it for a lot longer than we first thought.
0:17:54 > 0:17:57Hopefully it shouldn't be too much longer.
0:17:59 > 0:18:02- As the Fire Service depart... - Got it?
0:18:02 > 0:18:06..Rob and Paul put the pieces of the stranded car back together
0:18:06 > 0:18:07so it can be taken away.
0:18:07 > 0:18:10Happy there? Bit of T-Cut, job's a good'un.
0:18:12 > 0:18:15Which leaves one final job for the traffic officers...
0:18:15 > 0:18:19- Right, ready.- ..reopening the A1 as safely as possible.
0:18:21 > 0:18:24We run a nice, slow rolling road block.
0:18:24 > 0:18:26It gives the traffic time to build up steadily,
0:18:26 > 0:18:30so traffic doesn't come wandering up behind you and cause another one.
0:18:30 > 0:18:33Nearly two hours after they were the first to arrive,
0:18:33 > 0:18:37Rob and Paul are the last to leave the scene,
0:18:37 > 0:18:41but it will be a lot longer before the tailbacks clear behind them.
0:18:43 > 0:18:47Nearly 200,000 people are killed or injured in accidents
0:18:47 > 0:18:49on Britain's roads every year.
0:18:49 > 0:18:52Failing to look properly and loss of control
0:18:52 > 0:18:55are the biggest causes of collisions -
0:18:55 > 0:18:57but bad weather and poor visibility
0:18:57 > 0:18:59can also be a big factor.
0:18:59 > 0:19:03One area where problems can occur is a two-lane section
0:19:03 > 0:19:05of the A1 near Edinburgh.
0:19:07 > 0:19:09PCs Stewart Logan and Mike Nash...
0:19:09 > 0:19:11Yeah, roger, acknowledged, thank you.
0:19:11 > 0:19:15..are patrolling one of the many unlit stretches of the road...
0:19:15 > 0:19:20and know that, in bad weather, the risk of an accident can grow.
0:19:22 > 0:19:27On a slip road of the A1, they spot what looks like an abandoned car...
0:19:28 > 0:19:31Yeah, we've just come across that vehicle now.
0:19:31 > 0:19:34..and it's dangerously close to the main carriageway.
0:19:36 > 0:19:39The danger that it's in is that it's off the main carriageway,
0:19:39 > 0:19:41away from the curb sightline.
0:19:41 > 0:19:44But it's on a completely unlit part of the road.
0:19:44 > 0:19:47Obviously vehicles aren't going to be looking for it.
0:19:48 > 0:19:51It's in the middle of a reservation, as well.
0:19:51 > 0:19:54Vehicles coming from this way, vehicles coming from that way...
0:19:54 > 0:19:56They're not going to be looking here,
0:19:56 > 0:19:58right in the centre of the road.
0:19:58 > 0:20:01Could you give me details of the owner of the vehicle, please?
0:20:01 > 0:20:04Mike quickly finds out that the car has broken down
0:20:04 > 0:20:07and that the owner has called for roadside assistance.
0:20:07 > 0:20:10The owner for this has phoned in at 5.10pm
0:20:10 > 0:20:13to say that he was arranging his recovery.
0:20:13 > 0:20:16So that was 40 minutes ago now,
0:20:16 > 0:20:18but that's at the point that he's phoned in.
0:20:18 > 0:20:21Who's to say how long the car has actually been sat here?
0:20:21 > 0:20:25You can't see the car and it's just not a safe place
0:20:25 > 0:20:28for it to be left at all.
0:20:31 > 0:20:35We can't leave it. If our lights weren't on this now,
0:20:35 > 0:20:38people wouldn't necessarily see it, may make a mistake.
0:20:38 > 0:20:42People just end up clattering into the back of it.
0:20:42 > 0:20:44That's two tonnes of metal sitting there.
0:20:44 > 0:20:48That's somebody ploughing into that. It never ends well.
0:20:48 > 0:20:52You know, especially on the A1. It's 70mph here.
0:20:52 > 0:20:54People could be travelling at 70.
0:20:54 > 0:20:58It's just going to cause no end of devastation.
0:20:58 > 0:21:00Although no crime has been committed,
0:21:00 > 0:21:03Mike and Stewart decide that the car needs to be moved immediately.
0:21:03 > 0:21:05We've invoked police powers
0:21:05 > 0:21:09and we're going to get the vehicle lifted for causing
0:21:09 > 0:21:12an obstruction/danger to other road users.
0:21:16 > 0:21:19You leave your hazards on, or you leave some sort of light on,
0:21:19 > 0:21:23but for some unknown reason, that's been left completely in the dark,
0:21:23 > 0:21:26locked up, and somebody has walked away from that.
0:21:26 > 0:21:28You just think, "That's crazy."
0:21:28 > 0:21:31It's taken nearly 30 minutes to arrange for the abandoned car
0:21:31 > 0:21:33to be removed.
0:21:35 > 0:21:39For the officers, it's been all about keeping the A1 safe.
0:21:41 > 0:21:44The driver may be a bit annoyed that we've moved it.
0:21:44 > 0:21:46He may be a bit annoyed at having
0:21:46 > 0:21:49to go out of his way to go and get the vehicle collected
0:21:49 > 0:21:52from a recovery yard, but to be honest with you,
0:21:52 > 0:21:54I don't really care.
0:21:54 > 0:21:56The fact is that's off the road
0:21:56 > 0:21:59and that vehicle is now not causing a hazard to other road users.
0:22:03 > 0:22:06More than 270 miles south, just off
0:22:06 > 0:22:08the A1 in Nottinghamshire,
0:22:08 > 0:22:09another vehicle is
0:22:09 > 0:22:11stuck on the side of the road.
0:22:18 > 0:22:21Mark? Ryan? Anybody? Can you hear me?
0:22:21 > 0:22:25Dave Shipman has lost his convoy of five trucks which are
0:22:25 > 0:22:29ferrying huge farm machines to a major agricultural show.
0:22:29 > 0:22:30I'm going to have to ring, I think.
0:22:30 > 0:22:33No-one's on the radio, so he tries the phone.
0:22:36 > 0:22:37You're on your way, are you?
0:22:39 > 0:22:40OK.
0:22:41 > 0:22:43OK. No worries, then.
0:22:43 > 0:22:45Keep coming, then, and I'll make my way, yeah?
0:22:51 > 0:22:54Finally, the convoy is reunited.
0:22:56 > 0:22:58The low-loaders and their giant farm machines
0:22:58 > 0:23:01can now make their way south down the motorway.
0:23:01 > 0:23:03We've just got on the A1 at Grantham.
0:23:03 > 0:23:06It's 11.56,
0:23:06 > 0:23:08and I can see all the trucks in the mirror.
0:23:08 > 0:23:10The convoy must be at the showground
0:23:10 > 0:23:12by lunchtime to get the vehicles onto their stand,
0:23:12 > 0:23:16and high winds are slowing them down.
0:23:16 > 0:23:19Yeah, the wind is getting hold of us a little bit now.
0:23:21 > 0:23:25These boys in the other trucks are obviously feeling OK,
0:23:25 > 0:23:27but I'm just sticking to 50mph.
0:23:27 > 0:23:30You can feel it starting to buffet you about a little bit.
0:23:32 > 0:23:35Six low-loaders in convoy run nearly 300 metres,
0:23:35 > 0:23:39which can cause traffic chaos,
0:23:39 > 0:23:42but Dave and his team try and make it easy
0:23:42 > 0:23:44for fellow drivers to get past.
0:23:47 > 0:23:50It's mainly lorries trying to overtake other lorries.
0:23:50 > 0:23:53And if you stay... If you're in convoy, stick to about 50mph,
0:23:53 > 0:23:57the lorries can overtake you quite quickly,
0:23:57 > 0:23:59which doesn't then affect the cars.
0:23:59 > 0:24:02You will get two drivers that are pretty stubborn
0:24:02 > 0:24:05and sit at the side of each other,
0:24:05 > 0:24:07but it just causes chaos behind.
0:24:09 > 0:24:13Despite a few hiccups, the convoy has made it.
0:24:13 > 0:24:15This is it. We're here.
0:24:16 > 0:24:20They arrive at the East of England Showground just in time.
0:24:20 > 0:24:21No chance for a coffee break, though.
0:24:24 > 0:24:30They need to unload the vehicles and get them in place,
0:24:30 > 0:24:34but these titans need careful handling.
0:24:34 > 0:24:39You just have to have two people...guiding you.
0:24:45 > 0:24:49With all the machinery safely unloaded, Dave's work is done.
0:24:51 > 0:24:55Now it's down to the John Deere team to get them into position.
0:24:58 > 0:25:00The first one to go in would be the S-Series Combine,
0:25:00 > 0:25:02so our biggest combine.
0:25:02 > 0:25:04We'll get that in place and get
0:25:04 > 0:25:06the line right on the combine, and then the other machines
0:25:06 > 0:25:09will just match in in that same position as well,
0:25:09 > 0:25:10so it all looks good.
0:25:11 > 0:25:16Weighing in at more than 20 tonnes, with 38-inch tyres,
0:25:16 > 0:25:19this mammoth could do serious damage to the grass,
0:25:19 > 0:25:21so the team need to lay the way.
0:25:21 > 0:25:23Everywhere the combine goes,
0:25:23 > 0:25:26we have to put the boards underneath the wheels
0:25:26 > 0:25:29just so that we spread the weight out.
0:25:29 > 0:25:30REVERSING ALARM BEEPS
0:25:30 > 0:25:32On the show day, we want to make it look like
0:25:32 > 0:25:34we've just dropped the combine in place.
0:25:39 > 0:25:42After two hours of painstaking manoeuvring,
0:25:42 > 0:25:45the first three machines are in place.
0:25:55 > 0:25:58It's the opening morning of the show,
0:25:58 > 0:26:00and the completed John Deere stand
0:26:00 > 0:26:03is at the heart of the showground...
0:26:03 > 0:26:07with all 23 vehicles in position.
0:26:07 > 0:26:1040,000 people are expected over the next two days
0:26:10 > 0:26:14to view products from nearly 900 exhibitors.
0:26:14 > 0:26:17Becca, can you just fit those into the 7310? Thanks.
0:26:17 > 0:26:21And Chris is hoping at least some of them are in the market
0:26:21 > 0:26:23for some new machinery.
0:26:23 > 0:26:28Maybe we get somebody looking to purchase, whether it be a tractor,
0:26:28 > 0:26:33combine or sprayer, and we can start that sales process today.
0:26:33 > 0:26:36There's certainly been plenty of interest,
0:26:36 > 0:26:38and with a steady stream of visitors,
0:26:38 > 0:26:42it looks like the epic effort has all been worthwhile.
0:26:48 > 0:26:50Nearly 90 miles north, on the A1
0:26:50 > 0:26:52near Doncaster in south Yorkshire,
0:26:52 > 0:26:54traffic officers Paul Day
0:26:54 > 0:26:56and Rob Larkin are back on patrol.
0:26:59 > 0:27:01And it's not long before they spot
0:27:01 > 0:27:03some stranded travellers who look like
0:27:03 > 0:27:05they could be in need of help.
0:27:05 > 0:27:07Bus.
0:27:08 > 0:27:10One-Three, seen from the opposite carriageway.
0:27:10 > 0:27:12We've got a broken-down double-decker bus
0:27:12 > 0:27:14- on the hard shoulder. - It's got kids on and all.
0:27:14 > 0:27:16We believe there's passengers on it.
0:27:16 > 0:27:1937-38 on the Alpha-A1-M, over.
0:27:21 > 0:27:24The hard shoulder's a notoriously dangerous place to be,
0:27:24 > 0:27:26and if there are children on board,
0:27:26 > 0:27:30Paul and Rob need to get them off the road quickly.
0:27:32 > 0:27:34Within minutes of looping back,
0:27:34 > 0:27:36they're at the stranded double-decker...
0:27:38 > 0:27:41..and their concerns are confirmed.
0:27:44 > 0:27:45Driver?
0:27:45 > 0:27:48What have we got? How many kids have you got on?
0:27:54 > 0:27:59With over 40 five and six-year-olds on the bus and traffic thundering up
0:27:59 > 0:28:05behind at 70mph, the priority is to get them to safety,
0:28:05 > 0:28:08but moving the kids off the bus isn't an option.
0:28:09 > 0:28:12There's nowhere to corral them here, just up the banking,
0:28:12 > 0:28:14so it's best to leave them on.
0:28:14 > 0:28:17What we're going to do, put a bit of traffic management out
0:28:17 > 0:28:21down the hard shoulder and just make us a bit more visible
0:28:21 > 0:28:22to the travelling public.
0:28:24 > 0:28:27While Rob closes the hard shoulder behind the bus,
0:28:27 > 0:28:30Paul has another idea to protect the children.
0:28:30 > 0:28:31Have you got any spare seats?
0:28:33 > 0:28:36Right, can you move the kids from the back further forward
0:28:36 > 0:28:38just in case somebody runs into the back of the bus?
0:28:39 > 0:28:42The kids are as safe as Paul can make them for now,
0:28:42 > 0:28:46but it's not the end to the school trip anyone was expecting.
0:28:47 > 0:28:51We've been to the Yorkshire Wildlife Park and the bus has now broken down
0:28:51 > 0:28:54and we're stuck on the A1 with some
0:28:54 > 0:28:58- very agitated, hyperactive children. - Yes.
0:28:58 > 0:29:00Where has everybody been today?
0:29:01 > 0:29:02- KIDS: Wildlife park! - Wildlife park.
0:29:02 > 0:29:05And what sort of animals were we seeing at the wildlife park?
0:29:05 > 0:29:08- Lions! - Lions? What noise does a lion make?
0:29:08 > 0:29:10KIDS: Rarrrr!
0:29:10 > 0:29:13Wow, that's loud.
0:29:13 > 0:29:15They should be back in Bradford by now.
0:29:15 > 0:29:19Instead, they're still more than 35 miles away.
0:29:19 > 0:29:22- We've been stuck about... - About 40 minutes?- ..25 minutes now.
0:29:22 > 0:29:25- No, longer, love. - Longer.
0:29:25 > 0:29:27Who saw two meerkats?
0:29:27 > 0:29:29Did you compare them?
0:29:29 > 0:29:30No? Nobody would have got that one.
0:29:30 > 0:29:32- WOMAN LAUGHING:- I did!- You did?
0:29:33 > 0:29:37But at least the hard shoulder closure seems to be working.
0:29:37 > 0:29:41What you'll see is a lot of them will move across from the lane
0:29:41 > 0:29:46that they're in, into the second lane, to create a space,
0:29:46 > 0:29:48which is what we're trying to achieve.
0:29:48 > 0:29:52To everyone's relief, the replacement double-decker arrives.
0:29:54 > 0:29:56But now Paul needs to get 46 excited kids
0:29:56 > 0:29:59from one bus to another...
0:29:59 > 0:30:00Come on.
0:30:00 > 0:30:03..just a few feet from fast-moving traffic.
0:30:03 > 0:30:05WHISTLE BLOWS
0:30:05 > 0:30:07Right, REALLY sensibly.
0:30:07 > 0:30:08Keep following. Thank you.
0:30:12 > 0:30:14Bye. See you.
0:30:14 > 0:30:18See you. Ta-ra. Bye. See you.
0:30:19 > 0:30:23With the kids all safely on board, all they need is the driver.
0:30:23 > 0:30:25They're all on, driver, you can go when you're ready.
0:30:27 > 0:30:31- See you, kids. Have a good day! - Thank you, bye!
0:30:31 > 0:30:34- Cheers, boss. - And they're finally on their way.
0:30:38 > 0:30:40But with a stranded bus still to deal with
0:30:40 > 0:30:42and rush hour fast approaching,
0:30:42 > 0:30:45this job is far from over for Paul and Rob.
0:30:47 > 0:30:52With nearly 2,500 pieces of debris collected from the A1 every year,
0:30:52 > 0:30:54keeping the roads safe and clear
0:30:54 > 0:30:57is a key priority for the teams who watch over it.
0:30:59 > 0:31:01Near Morpeth in Northumberland,
0:31:01 > 0:31:03the police are targeting the problem.
0:31:03 > 0:31:05Monday morning, weekend's over.
0:31:05 > 0:31:09PC Darren Lant is on the lookout for any vehicles
0:31:09 > 0:31:11with dangerously unsecured loads
0:31:11 > 0:31:14which could end up causing a serious accident.
0:31:14 > 0:31:16Every time we see a heavy goods vehicle,
0:31:16 > 0:31:18I'll have a look at it and see if the load is secure.
0:31:18 > 0:31:20Imagine one of them coming off.
0:31:20 > 0:31:22They're probably a half a tonne tyre, something like that.
0:31:22 > 0:31:24And they're all strapped down, nice and secure.
0:31:24 > 0:31:27Every time we'll make sure whatever load it's carrying is safe.
0:31:27 > 0:31:29And stop it if we need to.
0:31:31 > 0:31:33But a few miles up the road,
0:31:33 > 0:31:35another driver's careless packing
0:31:35 > 0:31:39is leaving other A1 motorists' lives at risk.
0:31:39 > 0:31:41SIREN WAILS
0:31:43 > 0:31:46There's a van gone past,
0:31:46 > 0:31:51but his back doors are wide open and he's only got a bit of rope or tape
0:31:51 > 0:31:53or something over the doors.
0:31:54 > 0:31:56Once Darren can get a proper look,
0:31:56 > 0:31:59that's not the only thing wrong here.
0:31:59 > 0:32:01So the first thing - no numberplate.
0:32:02 > 0:32:04I cannot do a check on it because the numberplate
0:32:04 > 0:32:07is probably on the door. You know, he's got a load,
0:32:07 > 0:32:10a load of stuff in there that's going to bounce all over the place.
0:32:11 > 0:32:15A large metal frame sticking out is why the doors have been wedged open.
0:32:15 > 0:32:17That appears to be secured tightly,
0:32:17 > 0:32:22but everything else loose in the back is a potential hazard.
0:32:22 > 0:32:25You've got boxes of tools, you've got bags of tools,
0:32:25 > 0:32:29you've got all sorts lying around in there which clearly are insecure.
0:32:30 > 0:32:33Someone driving along, they're doing 50, 60mph
0:32:33 > 0:32:37behind this guy and then a cordless drill bounces out
0:32:37 > 0:32:39the back of the truck and goes through the windscreen.
0:32:39 > 0:32:41It's going to cause serious injury there,
0:32:41 > 0:32:43it's going to cause a massive crash.
0:32:43 > 0:32:46Some may say it's an exaggeration that it could cause a fatality,
0:32:46 > 0:32:48but I don't see the exaggeration at all.
0:32:50 > 0:32:53We'll get him stopped and we'll have a chat with him
0:32:53 > 0:32:55and decide what we're going to do with the load.
0:33:00 > 0:33:02For police officers like Darren,
0:33:02 > 0:33:05driving with an unsecured load is a serious offence,
0:33:05 > 0:33:09and motorists caught in the act can face an immediate fine
0:33:09 > 0:33:12and points on their licence.
0:33:12 > 0:33:14All right? How are you doing?
0:33:14 > 0:33:16Is it your van, or a company van, or work's van or what?
0:33:16 > 0:33:18- Work van.- Come and have a chat with us for two seconds,
0:33:18 > 0:33:21we'll have... I need to do a sequence as to why I've stopped you.
0:33:21 > 0:33:23- Who loaded this?- Me.
0:33:23 > 0:33:26You did. It's not the right load for this van, like, is it?
0:33:27 > 0:33:30Cannot see your numberplate, where's your numberplate?
0:33:30 > 0:33:32I'm assuming it's on this side of the door, is it?
0:33:32 > 0:33:33INDISTINCT REPLY
0:33:33 > 0:33:34You've got metal rods, you've got boxes...
0:33:34 > 0:33:37all sorts, tools lying all over the place.
0:33:39 > 0:33:42The driver is cautioned, fined £100,
0:33:42 > 0:33:45and will receive three points on his licence.
0:33:45 > 0:33:46Had you put them in the front,
0:33:46 > 0:33:49passenger's footwell or something - fine, not a problem,
0:33:49 > 0:33:52but you cannot be driving up the A1 with tools loose like that
0:33:52 > 0:33:54in the back of there. If you've got to brake for some reason,
0:33:54 > 0:33:57all that is going to come out. Whether you agree with it or not,
0:33:57 > 0:34:00- but do you understand what I'm saying?- Yeah.- OK.
0:34:00 > 0:34:03With just a few miles left to go on his journey,
0:34:03 > 0:34:06Darren is prepared to let him continue
0:34:06 > 0:34:09if he can stash the dangerous items inside.
0:34:10 > 0:34:12I know you cannot put the rods or anything in there,
0:34:12 > 0:34:15but the stuff that's going to bounce around...
0:34:15 > 0:34:16I can tie the rods up.
0:34:16 > 0:34:18Yeah, if you can do that, that would be great.
0:34:27 > 0:34:28It's all secured up now, is it?
0:34:28 > 0:34:30- Aye, it's better. - Excellent, that's great.
0:34:30 > 0:34:33I'll follow you up round and then just make sure nowt bounces out.
0:34:33 > 0:34:34Right, thank you.
0:34:36 > 0:34:39It's not ideal, but I'm not going to prohibit him
0:34:39 > 0:34:42from moving any further. He's done the best he can now,
0:34:42 > 0:34:45certainly doesn't look like anything's going to fall out now,
0:34:45 > 0:34:46but prior to stopping him,
0:34:46 > 0:34:48that tool box was about to fall out, I think.
0:34:48 > 0:34:51It certainly wouldn't have taken much longer.
0:34:51 > 0:34:54After escorting the van to the next junction,
0:34:54 > 0:34:56Darren is convinced he has
0:34:56 > 0:35:00eliminated another potential danger from the A1.
0:35:00 > 0:35:01Him safely off the A1 now,
0:35:01 > 0:35:04there's less risk of any major injuries on the side roads.
0:35:04 > 0:35:07He'll get the paperwork through the post for it.
0:35:07 > 0:35:09But Darren is still on the lookout
0:35:09 > 0:35:12for more vehicles which pose a risk to other motorists.
0:35:14 > 0:35:16Nearly 150 miles south,
0:35:16 > 0:35:18near Doncaster...
0:35:18 > 0:35:22Paul Day and Rob Larkin are still dealing with a double-decker
0:35:22 > 0:35:23that's broken down.
0:35:25 > 0:35:29With the 46 schoolchildren who were on board now safely away,
0:35:29 > 0:35:33their attention turns to moving the bus.
0:35:33 > 0:35:34Yeah, the difficult bit is done.
0:35:34 > 0:35:37They were really good kids, I was impressed.
0:35:37 > 0:35:40The bus has been leaking water.
0:35:40 > 0:35:42To get it started, they need to refill it.
0:35:42 > 0:35:45He's got to get water in from that side.
0:35:46 > 0:35:50But with the radiator cap just inches from fast-moving traffic,
0:35:50 > 0:35:51it's too risky.
0:35:51 > 0:35:52Just give us one minute.
0:35:54 > 0:35:59Collisions like this, recorded on a driver's dash cam,
0:35:59 > 0:36:00are all too common.
0:36:00 > 0:36:03On average, every week someone is killed or seriously injured
0:36:03 > 0:36:08on the hard shoulder, so Paul and Rob need to protect the mechanic.
0:36:08 > 0:36:11Rob's gone back, he's called for signs and signals
0:36:11 > 0:36:13to put a lane-one closure on.
0:36:13 > 0:36:15There's no way he'll be able to get that in safely,
0:36:15 > 0:36:17not with this traffic anyway.
0:36:17 > 0:36:22Once Rob has safely coned off the area, the mechanics get to work.
0:36:22 > 0:36:26But it's not looking good. The water is draining straight out.
0:36:26 > 0:36:29The bus will have to be moved to be looked at properly,
0:36:29 > 0:36:31so Paul calls for backup.
0:36:31 > 0:36:34One-Three, yeah, can you get me an ETA for...
0:36:34 > 0:36:37I believe it's Yankee-One-Two, to get to 37?
0:36:37 > 0:36:40This water is not staying in the vehicle,
0:36:40 > 0:36:42so I'm thinking we might have to rolling block.
0:36:43 > 0:36:46The bus will struggle to join fast-moving traffic,
0:36:46 > 0:36:51so Paul wants to create a gap for it to pull out into.
0:36:51 > 0:36:56Using another traffic car, they can slow oncoming vehicles right down.
0:36:56 > 0:36:58Got somebody coming to put a rolling block on.
0:36:58 > 0:37:01So when the rolling block goes on, we'll get a gap.
0:37:01 > 0:37:05He can then set off at his leisure, and take your time getting off.
0:37:05 > 0:37:09But first, they need to get things moving again.
0:37:09 > 0:37:11Now, if we've still got this lane closure up,
0:37:11 > 0:37:13by the time he gets here,
0:37:13 > 0:37:14he's going to be stuck in the traffic
0:37:14 > 0:37:19and he won't create us a gap. So, if we take this off now,
0:37:19 > 0:37:23traffic starts flowing again and it facilitates us
0:37:23 > 0:37:27to create a gap to get this double-decker off.
0:37:27 > 0:37:30Even with the cones gone, though,
0:37:30 > 0:37:33drivers seem reluctant to use both lanes.
0:37:33 > 0:37:37It's gone off, but as per usual, we're still here,
0:37:37 > 0:37:39so they don't realise they can use it.
0:37:39 > 0:37:40Because they see us here.
0:37:40 > 0:37:42It's a case of, "Oh, we'll give them a wide berth",
0:37:42 > 0:37:45which is a good thing, but we're actually waiting for these cars
0:37:45 > 0:37:48to get clear so we can do the rolling roadblock.
0:37:50 > 0:37:52A lot of car drivers are like sheep.
0:37:56 > 0:38:00They will follow each other, like, they weren't using lane one,
0:38:00 > 0:38:02as soon as the wagon driver came up lane one, that's it,
0:38:02 > 0:38:05everybody follows him and now it's flowing freely again.
0:38:06 > 0:38:08It's starting to free up.
0:38:08 > 0:38:11If he just gets me the last vehicle through,
0:38:11 > 0:38:14then we can clear it, we can run it from there on.
0:38:15 > 0:38:16See our colleague now,
0:38:16 > 0:38:20he's at the back of this traffic creating a rolling roadblock.
0:38:20 > 0:38:22We can see him, he's created a gap,
0:38:22 > 0:38:24so now we can move off with the bus.
0:38:24 > 0:38:27Alpha, and for One-Two's benefit,
0:38:27 > 0:38:29this vehicle has left the scene.
0:38:29 > 0:38:32If he just keeps the block on, just till it clears.
0:38:33 > 0:38:37Finally, nearly two hours after arriving,
0:38:37 > 0:38:39Paul and Rob's work is done.
0:38:39 > 0:38:42The 46 kids and their bus are all safely off the A1
0:38:42 > 0:38:45and are on their way home.
0:38:52 > 0:38:55Police officers on the A1 have an armoury of technology
0:38:55 > 0:38:59on hand to help catch offenders.
0:38:59 > 0:39:01In Northumberland, close to the town of Alnwick,
0:39:01 > 0:39:04a suspicious vehicle has been flagged up.
0:39:05 > 0:39:08PC Darren Lant is partway through his shift.
0:39:09 > 0:39:13- Tango-Six.- His onboard camera, which is linked to
0:39:13 > 0:39:16a comprehensive automatic numberplate recognition system -
0:39:16 > 0:39:18ANPR for short -
0:39:18 > 0:39:21has picked up a suspect vehicle.
0:39:21 > 0:39:23SIREN WAILS
0:39:23 > 0:39:26We've had a vehicle that went past that has no insurance,
0:39:26 > 0:39:27which poses a significant risk,
0:39:27 > 0:39:30which is why we need to try and see
0:39:30 > 0:39:32if we can find it and get him stopped
0:39:32 > 0:39:34and check that he has insurance.
0:39:34 > 0:39:37But the information is that he's not.
0:39:41 > 0:39:42This may well be him.
0:39:42 > 0:39:45Darren spots the van up ahead.
0:39:46 > 0:39:47Yeah, this is it.
0:39:56 > 0:39:58All right? How are we doing?
0:39:58 > 0:39:59Is this your van, is it?
0:39:59 > 0:40:01- No, it's me mate's. - It's your mate's, is it?
0:40:01 > 0:40:04- Can I see your driving licence? - I don't have owt with us, mate.
0:40:04 > 0:40:06- Are you insured to drive the van, are you?- Yeah.
0:40:06 > 0:40:07Come and have a chat with me for two seconds
0:40:07 > 0:40:10in the back of the car and we'll get some details down.
0:40:10 > 0:40:13We'll do a couple of checks, make sure everything is all right.
0:40:14 > 0:40:19The driver doesn't own the van, but still claims everything is in order.
0:40:19 > 0:40:22So I need to know which insurance you are using
0:40:22 > 0:40:24- that allows you to drive this van.- Halifax, mine.
0:40:24 > 0:40:26Right. Does it allow you to drive other vehicles,
0:40:26 > 0:40:28third-party, does it?
0:40:28 > 0:40:31- Yeah.- All right.- Time for another check, and an anxious wait.
0:40:34 > 0:40:37So the insurance on his vehicle, that expired in January, yeah?
0:40:37 > 0:40:41Driving without insurance could mean six points on his licence
0:40:41 > 0:40:43and a sizeable fine.
0:40:44 > 0:40:46It's not looking good, mate, OK?
0:40:46 > 0:40:48Your car, there's no insurance on that one, OK?
0:40:48 > 0:40:50- That's with the Halifax insurance. - Right.
0:40:50 > 0:40:52Well, they're saying there's nae insurance on there,
0:40:52 > 0:40:54and there's no insurance showing on this one,
0:40:54 > 0:40:56so you're potentially driving with no insurance.
0:40:56 > 0:40:59I'm going to caution you. You're not under arrest,
0:40:59 > 0:41:00it's just something I've got to say
0:41:00 > 0:41:02when I suspect an offence has been committed.
0:41:02 > 0:41:04The next step is to seize the vehicle.
0:41:04 > 0:41:07The owner will have seven working days to claim it.
0:41:07 > 0:41:10If he doesn't, it could be sold or crushed.
0:41:10 > 0:41:12What will happen is we'll have to take it away
0:41:12 > 0:41:15until such times that the owner can come and prove
0:41:15 > 0:41:18that they do own it and they have insurance for it.
0:41:19 > 0:41:22And the driver's problems, too, are piling up.
0:41:22 > 0:41:25He now has no van and it looks like
0:41:25 > 0:41:27he could be dropped off 50 miles
0:41:27 > 0:41:29from his home in Durham.
0:41:29 > 0:41:32We won't be taking you from here to Durham, like, all right?
0:41:32 > 0:41:34I'll let you know that straightaway,
0:41:34 > 0:41:35we'll not be taking you to Durham.
0:41:35 > 0:41:37We'll take you to Alnwick, the next big town,
0:41:37 > 0:41:40and you can arrange collection from there, all right?
0:41:42 > 0:41:4540 minutes later, the van and driver are taken
0:41:45 > 0:41:49to nearby Alnwick by another police officer.
0:41:49 > 0:41:50I class it as a success.
0:41:50 > 0:41:53It's another uninsured driver off the road,
0:41:53 > 0:41:54but it goes to prove the importance
0:41:54 > 0:41:57and the benefit and the value of ANPR fitted to the patrol cars.
0:42:00 > 0:42:02In Alnwick, the driver has to work out
0:42:02 > 0:42:05how to make the 50-mile journey home,
0:42:05 > 0:42:08but that's not Darren's problem.
0:42:08 > 0:42:11We're not taxis. We are a very limited and very expensive resource
0:42:11 > 0:42:14and we're needed at all times,
0:42:14 > 0:42:20and it just doesn't justify taking a patrol car off the road
0:42:20 > 0:42:22for any sort of unnecessary time.
0:42:28 > 0:42:30The van was finally returned to
0:42:30 > 0:42:33its owner after he produced proof of insurance.
0:42:33 > 0:42:38The motorist, Ivor Bennett, was later fined a total of £810
0:42:38 > 0:42:41and received six points on his licence
0:42:41 > 0:42:43for driving with no insurance.
0:42:45 > 0:42:48And after their bus broke down during their school trip,
0:42:48 > 0:42:51all the children finally had a safe journey back home.