0:00:02 > 0:00:05The A1, Britain's longest road -
0:00:06 > 0:00:10stretching almost 400 miles from the city of London
0:00:10 > 0:00:12to the heart of the Scottish capital.
0:00:14 > 0:00:17Connecting two nations and passing through 18 counties, it's an
0:00:17 > 0:00:22unrivalled highway used 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 the 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, it's 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 > 0:00:54..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 > 0:01:02We don't know whether we've got the road closed or...
0:01:02 > 0:01:03We don't know what's happened.
0:01:03 > 0:01:04..and traffic officers.
0:01:06 > 0:01:07Better keep going.
0:01:08 > 0:01:11Keeping Britain's most iconic road...
0:01:11 > 0:01:12Get out.
0:01:12 > 0:01:13..on the move.
0:01:14 > 0:01:18Substantially damaged flatbed truck in lane two.
0:01:18 > 0:01:21The A1, the monster that it is, will start to return to normal.
0:01:26 > 0:01:27Coming up...
0:01:27 > 0:01:29A race to get a stranded fuel tanker...
0:01:29 > 0:01:30HORN BLAST
0:01:30 > 0:01:32..away from rush-hour traffic.
0:01:32 > 0:01:35We've got 41,000 litres of diesel and petrol.
0:01:36 > 0:01:39There's a danger if someone obviously impacted with him.
0:01:40 > 0:01:42Police catch a vehicle travelling nearly 30mph
0:01:42 > 0:01:44over the speed limit.
0:01:44 > 0:01:4668.
0:01:46 > 0:01:49And an illegal motorist is caught red-handed.
0:01:49 > 0:01:51It's showing you haven't got a driving licence.
0:01:51 > 0:01:52Did I have one?
0:01:53 > 0:01:55Erm, let's see.
0:01:59 > 0:02:02As one of Britain's biggest motorways,
0:02:02 > 0:02:05the A1 carries hundreds of thousands of vehicles every day.
0:02:07 > 0:02:09And one of the busiest times of the week for crashes
0:02:09 > 0:02:11is the evening rush hour on a Friday.
0:02:13 > 0:02:15In places like Ferrybridge in West Yorkshire,
0:02:15 > 0:02:17where three lanes drop into two,
0:02:17 > 0:02:20problems can occur as commuters head home for the weekend.
0:02:23 > 0:02:26Yeah, all received. We're making our way as best we can through traffic.
0:02:27 > 0:02:31It's 7:40pm and traffic officers Paul Day and Matt Gibson
0:02:31 > 0:02:33are hurrying to the scene of a crash.
0:02:34 > 0:02:36So, we've got reports of a two-vehicle RTC,
0:02:36 > 0:02:38one vehicle's stuck in the outside lane with a small child in it.
0:02:39 > 0:02:41About eight years old, I think.
0:02:41 > 0:02:43It's more that there's a young child in it and they've stayed
0:02:43 > 0:02:45in the car that's slightly worrying.
0:02:46 > 0:02:48Because who would want to stay in a live running lane
0:02:48 > 0:02:49if they didn't have to be?
0:02:52 > 0:02:54There's a real risk of casualties,
0:02:54 > 0:02:58so it's vital Paul and Matt get there quickly.
0:02:58 > 0:03:00But traffic's blocking their way.
0:03:00 > 0:03:03The traffic's stationary on approach.
0:03:03 > 0:03:05We're going to use the hard shoulder.
0:03:05 > 0:03:08We're on the hard shoulder, running up to the incident now.
0:03:08 > 0:03:09Look for the policeman.
0:03:11 > 0:03:12- Nothing there.- Not there?
0:03:12 > 0:03:14We need to clear some debris, anyway.
0:03:18 > 0:03:20The vehicle's badly damaged, but, thankfully,
0:03:20 > 0:03:23the couple and their eight-year-old daughter are safe.
0:03:23 > 0:03:24They've had a lucky escape.
0:03:28 > 0:03:29We were travelling in the fast lane.
0:03:29 > 0:03:34A car in the inside lane came into the car into the middle lane,
0:03:34 > 0:03:37which then swerved into me.
0:03:37 > 0:03:39The car that's caused it has driven off, erm,
0:03:39 > 0:03:42and the guy in the middle lane has obviously held his hands up
0:03:42 > 0:03:44to say that he's hit me.
0:03:44 > 0:03:48Their smashed-up vehicle is still blocking the outside lane.
0:03:48 > 0:03:51With the tailback up to five miles long and growing,
0:03:51 > 0:03:53shifting the pick-up is now their top priority.
0:03:55 > 0:03:59If you can hand-stop traffic, then we can do it without traffic
0:03:59 > 0:04:02running past us, clear this vehicle, over.
0:04:02 > 0:04:04Moving stricken vehicles can be tricky,
0:04:04 > 0:04:06and they need to close the road.
0:04:06 > 0:04:09There's quite a lot of damage to it, so what we've done is stop traffic.
0:04:09 > 0:04:12I'm just looking for a suitable place to try and get hold of it,
0:04:12 > 0:04:14to drag it.
0:04:16 > 0:04:18They are designed to smash up, yeah.
0:04:18 > 0:04:21You just have to get the best place you can get.
0:04:21 > 0:04:23Hook it up, and...
0:04:23 > 0:04:24HE GRUNTS
0:04:24 > 0:04:25..drag it off.
0:04:27 > 0:04:30But the hundreds of cars in the jam are still stuck.
0:04:30 > 0:04:34The road can't be reopened until the remaining debris is gone, too.
0:04:35 > 0:04:36Grab a brush.
0:04:42 > 0:04:43Are you all right?
0:04:43 > 0:04:45- Are you happy? - Yeah, I'm happy, yeah.
0:04:45 > 0:04:46Right, he's happy with it, Matt.
0:04:47 > 0:04:50So, what we did there, we just made sure we were all clear
0:04:50 > 0:04:53on the carriageway before we let cars go...
0:04:54 > 0:04:55..which we've done now.
0:04:58 > 0:04:59Hotel Alpha Charlie Lima 13.
0:05:00 > 0:05:02The block is free.
0:05:02 > 0:05:04Normal talk-through can resume. Thank you to everybody else.
0:05:06 > 0:05:07Seven minutes after arriving,
0:05:07 > 0:05:11Paul and Matt have made sure commuters are moving again.
0:05:11 > 0:05:13But for driver Russell and his family,
0:05:13 > 0:05:16who have travelled up the A1 from their home in Ipswich,
0:05:16 > 0:05:19a bad day looks like it's getting a whole lot worse.
0:05:22 > 0:05:24I don't know how we're going to get home.
0:05:24 > 0:05:27The insurance company has said that they'll only recover us ten miles
0:05:27 > 0:05:30and we're obviously 200 miles away from home.
0:05:30 > 0:05:32It's not what we were hoping for.
0:05:34 > 0:05:36But, thanks to the police and traffic officers,
0:05:36 > 0:05:39the family are safe and are being ferried to a warm hotel.
0:05:42 > 0:05:44And with their pick-up finally recovered,
0:05:44 > 0:05:46it's a job well done for Paul and Matt.
0:05:48 > 0:05:50The job's a good 'un. Everybody's gone home safe.
0:05:50 > 0:05:52Little bit of damage, but that can be, er...
0:05:53 > 0:05:55..written off.
0:05:57 > 0:06:00But keeping Britain's longest road moving is a constant battle
0:06:00 > 0:06:04and its not just accidents which bring the A1 grinding to a halt.
0:06:08 > 0:06:11In any one week, mile after mile of the carriageway is subject
0:06:11 > 0:06:15to temporary speed limits because of roadworks.
0:06:17 > 0:06:21We all get frustrated by being caught up in them,
0:06:21 > 0:06:25but these A1 drivers simply think that the rules don't apply to them,
0:06:25 > 0:06:28and behaviour like this has dangerous consequences.
0:06:30 > 0:06:34Especially for the people on the other side of the cones.
0:06:36 > 0:06:41Since 2005, 16 men and women have lost their lives working on
0:06:41 > 0:06:46England's major roads and over 500 have been seriously injured.
0:06:48 > 0:06:50On the A1 near Morpeth in Northumberland,
0:06:50 > 0:06:53police are cracking down on the problem.
0:06:53 > 0:06:58Today, PC Darren Lant is monitoring vehicles as they pass through roadworks.
0:06:58 > 0:07:00I've just parked up on the on-slip here to the A1.
0:07:00 > 0:07:02There's a lot of roadworks going on and we're getting a lot
0:07:02 > 0:07:06of complaints from the staff,
0:07:06 > 0:07:09the roadwork staff that are trying to improve the area,
0:07:09 > 0:07:11of vehicles not sticking to the temporary speed limit,
0:07:11 > 0:07:13and causing a danger to those roadwork lads.
0:07:14 > 0:07:18First, Darren wants to gauge how bad the problem is.
0:07:18 > 0:07:19All I do is just point and shoot.
0:07:19 > 0:07:22And it's not long before he gets some disturbing readings
0:07:22 > 0:07:24in this 40mph zone.
0:07:25 > 0:07:27Here we go. There's a couple coming down now.
0:07:27 > 0:07:28Outside lane, white one.
0:07:31 > 0:07:32BEEP
0:07:33 > 0:07:3561.
0:07:37 > 0:07:38BMW.
0:07:40 > 0:07:41BEEP
0:07:41 > 0:07:4255.
0:07:42 > 0:07:4530 seconds of checking, there's been about five vehicles who have gone
0:07:45 > 0:07:48through between 55 and 61mph.
0:07:48 > 0:07:52So, now that I know there is a problem, I'll start looking to
0:07:52 > 0:07:54enforce it and we'll have a word with some of the drivers.
0:08:02 > 0:08:04The white Citroen.
0:08:10 > 0:08:11BEEP
0:08:11 > 0:08:1368.
0:08:13 > 0:08:15That's a massive 28mph over the limit.
0:08:18 > 0:08:20Darren must be careful.
0:08:20 > 0:08:23He is keen to stop the driver, but doesn't want to risk a chase
0:08:23 > 0:08:26that could endanger other motorists.
0:08:26 > 0:08:2968mph in a 40mph limit.
0:08:29 > 0:08:33Do a check on it, see where it's from, see if there's anything on it.
0:08:33 > 0:08:35Vehicle check, please. White Citroen.
0:08:39 > 0:08:40Yes, yes, thank you.
0:08:40 > 0:08:43Lives local, probably travels the road quite a lot.
0:08:43 > 0:08:47With the checks done, Darren starts to pull the driver over.
0:08:49 > 0:08:52I always give them a pre-warning that I'm going to stop them
0:08:52 > 0:08:54and give them a little bit of a flash of the blue light,
0:08:54 > 0:08:56let them know that's what's coming.
0:08:58 > 0:09:01They can make a nice, safe stop in the lay-by here, which is good.
0:09:09 > 0:09:11Hello, sir. How are you? Can I have a chat with you in the car,
0:09:11 > 0:09:13about two seconds, please?
0:09:16 > 0:09:19I'm going to caution you. You don't have to say anything,
0:09:19 > 0:09:21but it may harm your defence if you do not answer, when questioned,
0:09:21 > 0:09:25something you may rely on later in court and anything you do say may be given in evidence.
0:09:25 > 0:09:28You're not under arrest, that's just something that I've got to say to you. OK?
0:09:28 > 0:09:29It was actually 68mph.
0:09:29 > 0:09:32Is there any reason as to why you're doing 68mph in a 40 limit?
0:09:36 > 0:09:39OK. It does carry three points on your licence.
0:09:39 > 0:09:41Although, when they catch drivers speeding,
0:09:41 > 0:09:45police have some discretion in the way they deal with each case,
0:09:46 > 0:09:50on this occasion, the motorist was going so fast,
0:09:50 > 0:09:52Darren immediately gives him a ticket.
0:09:52 > 0:09:55That gentleman wasn't offered a place on a speed awareness course
0:09:55 > 0:09:59because he was travelling 28mph over the posted speed limit.
0:09:59 > 0:10:02It's 40mph. They know that, and doing 68 in a 40,
0:10:02 > 0:10:04it's just unacceptable.
0:10:06 > 0:10:07What we've got here on the A1,
0:10:07 > 0:10:10we've got a lot of roadworks going on, so there's a lot of hazards,
0:10:10 > 0:10:12a lot of people on the road, so it's really unsafe for them to be
0:10:12 > 0:10:15on the road when you've got vehicles travelling at high speed.
0:10:16 > 0:10:19What we're doing is, we're just making sure people are sticking
0:10:19 > 0:10:21to the speed limits, but it's not all about coming out and getting
0:10:21 > 0:10:23as many speeding tickets as we can.
0:10:23 > 0:10:25You know, we're not... That's not the be-all and end-all
0:10:25 > 0:10:27of being a traffic cop.
0:10:30 > 0:10:34Speeding motorists will be one of Darren's priorities for the rest
0:10:34 > 0:10:38of his shift, and he's sure this one won't be his last.
0:10:45 > 0:10:47Just over 20 miles away,
0:10:47 > 0:10:51one of the road-laying teams he's trying to protect is racing
0:10:51 > 0:10:52to finish its latest job.
0:10:53 > 0:10:56And they've got a revolutionary machine to help them,
0:10:56 > 0:10:59with Darren Housman manning the controls.
0:11:01 > 0:11:05When I saw the size of it, it was like, "Oh, God!" at first, but,
0:11:05 > 0:11:10yeah, really excited and, you know, ready to roll with it and get going.
0:11:11 > 0:11:15With hundreds of thousands of vehicles pounding the road every day,
0:11:15 > 0:11:19this huge, 52-tonne resurfacing machine is part of a small army
0:11:19 > 0:11:25which ensures the A1's 400 miles of tarmac is kept safe for drivers.
0:11:25 > 0:11:28What makes this revolutionary machine so special
0:11:28 > 0:11:32is that the road it's ripping up at the front is immediately being
0:11:32 > 0:11:34recycled and relayed the back.
0:11:36 > 0:11:37When there's a lot of people about,
0:11:37 > 0:11:42you've sort of got a lot to think about and a lot to, sort of, watch.
0:11:42 > 0:11:44You've got the elevator, the boys at the back of it,
0:11:44 > 0:11:48and those at the front of the machine, that kind of thing.
0:11:48 > 0:11:52It can be a bit nervous at times, but once you get on,
0:11:52 > 0:11:53you get over it.
0:11:54 > 0:11:58Today, Darren and his team are tackling a 1.25-mile section,
0:11:58 > 0:12:01and expect to complete the job three times faster
0:12:01 > 0:12:03than by using traditional methods.
0:12:05 > 0:12:07And overseeing the operation is Steve Bishop.
0:12:10 > 0:12:11This system has a number of benefits.
0:12:11 > 0:12:15The amount of waste that is going to landfill is down 70%.
0:12:15 > 0:12:18The amount of imported new stone that we need, new blacktop,
0:12:18 > 0:12:21is down 75%, so massive savings there.
0:12:21 > 0:12:24And then, also, as far as workforce is concerned,
0:12:24 > 0:12:2749% fewer man-hours to do the job,
0:12:27 > 0:12:29so we've got less exposure for our workforce to what is, admittedly,
0:12:29 > 0:12:32a not particularly nice place to have to work -
0:12:32 > 0:12:34the side of a fast dual carriageway.
0:12:37 > 0:12:40Recycling the original road stones and re-laying them
0:12:40 > 0:12:44with added bitumen in a much cooler system in one go means they can lay
0:12:44 > 0:12:481,000 tonnes of road a day instead of just 350.
0:12:48 > 0:12:53This means they can relay both lanes anyone in a 1.25-mile section
0:12:53 > 0:12:55of road in just two and a half weeks.
0:12:55 > 0:12:58We're not in the business of disrupting drivers to make
0:12:58 > 0:13:02their lives rotten, but we do have a legal duty to maintain the road,
0:13:02 > 0:13:03and make sure it's safe for people.
0:13:03 > 0:13:06So, when we need to go in, we go in, but what we'd like to do is go in,
0:13:06 > 0:13:08hit it hard, hit it quick and get out of the way,
0:13:08 > 0:13:11so people can get back to their business.
0:13:11 > 0:13:14With the road taking a pounding 24/7,
0:13:14 > 0:13:16it's no wonder that around 50 miles of the A1
0:13:16 > 0:13:18need to be replaced every year
0:13:18 > 0:13:22and all that means Darren and his monster machine are going to be
0:13:22 > 0:13:25kept busy for a good while yet.
0:13:26 > 0:13:28If you don't mind, I'm going to have to crack on,
0:13:28 > 0:13:32cos we've got another K to do today, so we want to be up and at it.
0:13:35 > 0:13:37More than 300 miles away,
0:13:37 > 0:13:39at the southern end of the A1 in Hertfordshire,
0:13:39 > 0:13:42the evening rush hour is often the busiest time for the teams
0:13:42 > 0:13:43who keep it safe.
0:13:51 > 0:13:54Traffic officers Rob Taylor and Steve Francis are in the middle
0:13:54 > 0:13:57of their shift and they've just spotted a vehicle on a roundabout
0:13:57 > 0:13:59off the main carriageway.
0:13:59 > 0:14:01Hotel Alpha Sierra Lima 52.
0:14:04 > 0:14:07A 40-foot articulated tanker has stopped
0:14:07 > 0:14:11and is causing a serious obstruction in fast-moving traffic.
0:14:12 > 0:14:14Yeah, we've just come up against a petrol tanker,
0:14:14 > 0:14:18junction nine on the roundabout over the A1 M.
0:14:18 > 0:14:20We're just going to go round and see what the situation is.
0:14:26 > 0:14:28Clutch or brake?
0:14:28 > 0:14:29Sorry, what?
0:14:29 > 0:14:31Yeah, I'm getting a smell. Is it clutch or brake?
0:14:31 > 0:14:34- No, it's brakes on the back. - Brakes. They're locked on, are they?
0:14:34 > 0:14:37- Yeah, got an air leak, just caused the brakes to lock on.- OK.
0:14:37 > 0:14:40We're coming round the roundabout and see some smoke coming off
0:14:40 > 0:14:43the back axle, so we thought it be wise to pull over.
0:14:43 > 0:14:45On inspection, we've got an air leak
0:14:45 > 0:14:48and it's caused the brakes to lock on.
0:14:49 > 0:14:52But the biggest problem is the contents of the tanker.
0:14:52 > 0:14:55On this load, we've got 41,000 litres of split load
0:14:55 > 0:14:56between diesel and petrol.
0:14:57 > 0:15:01There's a real danger that the overheated brakes could catch fire.
0:15:01 > 0:15:05And with the tanker full of fuel and traffic passing close by,
0:15:05 > 0:15:07Rob fears the worst.
0:15:07 > 0:15:11If the brakes locked on, they can be known to be getting very, very hot.
0:15:11 > 0:15:13You don't want hot brakes with a petrol tanker.
0:15:13 > 0:15:16We've got to be super-cautious with it.
0:15:16 > 0:15:18It means that Rob must get a recovery vehicle out
0:15:18 > 0:15:20as quickly as possible.
0:15:20 > 0:15:21I'll need to know who's coming out,
0:15:21 > 0:15:25- find out an ETA, so we know how long it's going to be there.- Yeah.
0:15:25 > 0:15:27But it's not looking good.
0:15:27 > 0:15:30Recovery's said to be 60-90 minutes.
0:15:30 > 0:15:32I've tried to urge them to try and see if we can get it quicker.
0:15:37 > 0:15:40It's not good. Usually, when this happens, it always happens
0:15:40 > 0:15:41in the wrong location.
0:15:41 > 0:15:45And there's already been a near miss before Rob and Steve arrived.
0:15:45 > 0:15:48Apparently, they've put their two hazard triangles out,
0:15:48 > 0:15:51one's already been hit by somebody, amazingly, so...
0:15:53 > 0:15:54You couldn't make it up.
0:15:56 > 0:15:58To make the area safe,
0:15:58 > 0:16:01Steve must put a cordon around the truck as quickly as possible,
0:16:01 > 0:16:03which will take out an entire lane.
0:16:05 > 0:16:07But the danger's not over yet.
0:16:07 > 0:16:09Everyone's going home at the moment,
0:16:09 > 0:16:12and these guys will enter the slip at speed.
0:16:14 > 0:16:17So, of course, only when they come halfway round the roundabout,
0:16:17 > 0:16:21they'll realise that there is actually something in lane one.
0:16:21 > 0:16:23We've got three lanes of traffic coming onto the roundabout
0:16:23 > 0:16:26and then two lanes have to decide where they're going
0:16:26 > 0:16:27once they see the vehicle.
0:16:28 > 0:16:31So, the two lanes have to merge into one, and, as you can see here,
0:16:31 > 0:16:34this is where the problem arises.
0:16:38 > 0:16:40With traffic jockeying for position just a few feet
0:16:40 > 0:16:43from the stricken tanker,
0:16:43 > 0:16:46the driver's words aren't filling Rob with confidence.
0:16:47 > 0:16:50When they actually go up in flames, they burn for about eight hours.
0:16:50 > 0:16:52The fire engines don't bother putting them out,
0:16:52 > 0:16:54they just let them burn and protect everything around them,
0:16:54 > 0:16:56cos you can't put it out.
0:16:57 > 0:17:00But even as the traffic lessens, the problems grow.
0:17:00 > 0:17:01HORN BLAST
0:17:03 > 0:17:06Honestly, it's frustrating to watch, because sometimes you can see
0:17:06 > 0:17:08something happening before it even happens.
0:17:08 > 0:17:11And when you see there are people not paying attention,
0:17:11 > 0:17:13you can, you know, predict something might happen.
0:17:16 > 0:17:18After the tanker has been stranded
0:17:18 > 0:17:20on the roundabout for an hour and a half,
0:17:20 > 0:17:24finally a mechanic arrives to try and fix the vehicle's brakes.
0:17:24 > 0:17:27I think the air press is obviously dropped on one wheel.
0:17:27 > 0:17:29If I can hear it's got an air leak, then I can blank it off
0:17:29 > 0:17:31and the brakes will release.
0:17:34 > 0:17:36With the tanker's brakes released...
0:17:38 > 0:17:40Good, that's good. That should have everything covered.
0:17:40 > 0:17:43..and the cones removed,
0:17:43 > 0:17:46Rob and Steve can escort the vehicle to a lay-by,
0:17:46 > 0:17:49where proper repairs can be carried out.
0:17:49 > 0:17:52It's not had too much of an impact, I'm glad to say,
0:17:52 > 0:17:54but with tankers, you can never be too careful with them.
0:17:56 > 0:17:57Nice to meet you, guys.
0:17:57 > 0:17:59I didn't want it going up in smoke.
0:17:59 > 0:18:00If that's got that hot,
0:18:00 > 0:18:03the last thing you want to do is be moving it unnecessarily,
0:18:03 > 0:18:06but it is cooled down and if the fitter's happy, then we're happy.
0:18:06 > 0:18:10If it gets the motorway open or the road open, we're even happier.
0:18:11 > 0:18:13So, the A1 is clear for now.
0:18:14 > 0:18:18But with this stretch being a major route in and out of the capital,
0:18:18 > 0:18:20it won't be long before the South Mimms Traffic Team
0:18:20 > 0:18:21will be needed again.
0:18:25 > 0:18:30More than 350 miles north, at Five Sisters zoo near Edinburgh,
0:18:30 > 0:18:32two keepers are desperate for their vehicle to have
0:18:32 > 0:18:35an incident-free journey through sub-zero temperatures.
0:18:40 > 0:18:43It's feeding time and head reptile keeper Chris Brown is gearing up
0:18:43 > 0:18:47for a marathon seven-hour journey down the A1
0:18:47 > 0:18:50with some of the zoo's most dangerous creatures.
0:18:52 > 0:18:55They've run out of space in the reptile house,
0:18:55 > 0:18:57so six young alligators need to be moved
0:18:57 > 0:18:59to a specialist zoo in Oxfordshire.
0:19:02 > 0:19:04It's really becoming a safety issue, not only for ourselves,
0:19:04 > 0:19:07but the animals as well. They can get quite excitable when it comes
0:19:07 > 0:19:10to feeding and the risk of them injuring each other
0:19:10 > 0:19:13is always going to be there with this number of animals
0:19:13 > 0:19:16in that size of space, so the plan is to move them on to a larger,
0:19:16 > 0:19:18more suitable facility.
0:19:19 > 0:19:23Keeping six cold-blooded juveniles warm on a Scottish winter's day
0:19:23 > 0:19:25is going to be a big challenge.
0:19:28 > 0:19:30But the team's first battle is catching them.
0:19:32 > 0:19:34So they need to make it snappy.
0:19:35 > 0:19:36- Right, you ready?- Yeah.
0:19:41 > 0:19:44An alligator's bite is one of the most powerful in the animal kingdom,
0:19:44 > 0:19:47so there's always a risk of serious injury.
0:19:48 > 0:19:51Their jaws will have to be taped up for the journey.
0:19:51 > 0:19:52That's really strong.
0:19:52 > 0:19:54It's ridiculously strong, that tape.
0:19:57 > 0:20:00The last one left to come out is the keeper's favourite.
0:20:00 > 0:20:02They call him Digit,
0:20:02 > 0:20:04because he arrived here missing a few on his front leg.
0:20:06 > 0:20:07Yeah.
0:20:09 > 0:20:10Oh, nae bother.
0:20:10 > 0:20:12He's a little sweetheart.
0:20:16 > 0:20:19Digit will join the others for a few hours' rest
0:20:19 > 0:20:21as they're planning to leave before dawn.
0:20:21 > 0:20:23This is where they'll be staying for the night.
0:20:23 > 0:20:25Nice and comfortable. We've got a system here.
0:20:25 > 0:20:29It's really nice and warm in here, so we'll just see them again at 4am.
0:20:31 > 0:20:34The next morning, it's a very early start.
0:20:36 > 0:20:40These creatures are used to living in temperatures topping 18 Celsius.
0:20:43 > 0:20:46So, the biggest challenge for this journey is going to be
0:20:46 > 0:20:48keeping the alligators warm enough.
0:20:48 > 0:20:51Right now, it's about -6 outside...
0:20:52 > 0:20:54..which is not ideal for an alligator.
0:20:54 > 0:20:56These guys come from North America where most of the time,
0:20:56 > 0:20:58they're going to be sitting in the upper 20s,
0:20:58 > 0:21:02so their enclosure generally is kept between 25-30 degrees centigrade,
0:21:02 > 0:21:05so we'll keep the whole van quite warm.
0:21:05 > 0:21:08We've planned to travel down in shorts and T-shirts for that reason,
0:21:08 > 0:21:10we're actually going to keep the van nice and toasty.
0:21:10 > 0:21:13We do have an extra heat source for them as well in the form of,
0:21:13 > 0:21:16actually, an electric blanket from Adrian's house.
0:21:16 > 0:21:18That's going to be wrapped around the boxes.
0:21:20 > 0:21:24With the boxes cut down to fit, the alligators are finally moved in.
0:21:29 > 0:21:32Chances are, once they're in here and the boxes aren't moving,
0:21:32 > 0:21:36they're warm, they're dark, they're going to settle right down.
0:21:38 > 0:21:41At 6am, an hour later than planned...
0:21:41 > 0:21:42Best be on their way.
0:21:44 > 0:21:47..their mammoth trip south, down the A1, begins.
0:21:52 > 0:21:55Leading this time, we're a good two hours ahead of any sort of traffic
0:21:55 > 0:21:57- that we would get here.- Yeah.
0:21:57 > 0:21:58Our only real issue traffic-wise
0:21:58 > 0:22:01is probably going to be when we hit, sort of, Newcastle way.
0:22:03 > 0:22:06We've got the animals as comfortable as we possibly can,
0:22:06 > 0:22:09giving ourselves a constant and consistent speed
0:22:09 > 0:22:11as we can, all the way down.
0:22:13 > 0:22:15Today's forecast to be the coldest of the year.
0:22:17 > 0:22:19And just two hours into the journey,
0:22:19 > 0:22:21the sub-zero temperatures
0:22:21 > 0:22:23have frozen their windscreen washer nozzles,
0:22:23 > 0:22:25forcing them to make an unscheduled stop.
0:22:27 > 0:22:28It's just frozen over, is it?
0:22:28 > 0:22:31I think these are just frozen over, yeah. Yeah. I know,
0:22:31 > 0:22:34but it could be frozen all the way down, that's the problem.
0:22:34 > 0:22:36Unable to see through the windscreen,
0:22:36 > 0:22:40Chris and Adrian resort to using grass to clean it.
0:22:40 > 0:22:41- Things you do, eh?- Yep.
0:22:42 > 0:22:45And with freezing temperatures causing such havoc...
0:22:47 > 0:22:50..they're concerned about the cold-blooded alligators.
0:22:51 > 0:22:54So, we're just going to check the temperatures just to see...
0:22:54 > 0:22:57Just to get an idea of how things are going.
0:22:57 > 0:23:00It should be over 20 degrees inside the boxes.
0:23:04 > 0:23:0512.7!
0:23:08 > 0:23:1010.5!
0:23:12 > 0:23:15They still have over 350 miles to go
0:23:15 > 0:23:17and with temperatures set to drop further,
0:23:17 > 0:23:21they need to get back on the road with the heaters on full blast
0:23:21 > 0:23:22to try and get the alligators warmer.
0:23:24 > 0:23:28Snow, ice and fog affect all A1 road users,
0:23:28 > 0:23:32but even more so if motorists are speeding.
0:23:32 > 0:23:34North of Newcastle is a stretch of road
0:23:34 > 0:23:36where accidents can often happen.
0:23:40 > 0:23:45A1 patrol officer PC Darren Lant has a laser speed gun and is watching
0:23:45 > 0:23:49for drivers exceeding the limit as the road passes Morpeth.
0:23:50 > 0:23:53One of his most frequent stops is a man in a van,
0:23:53 > 0:23:55which is usually white.
0:23:55 > 0:23:56SPEED GUN BEEPS
0:23:58 > 0:24:01And Darren's spotted one he thinks is travelling too fast.
0:24:03 > 0:24:05White van. We might get the white van.
0:24:08 > 0:24:1077. We'll have a chat with him.
0:24:12 > 0:24:1677mph is over the limit for any vehicle on the A1.
0:24:16 > 0:24:19But on this stretch, the rules are different for cars
0:24:19 > 0:24:22than they are for small goods vehicles like this one.
0:24:22 > 0:24:26Some drivers of Transit style vehicles, they forget,
0:24:26 > 0:24:29or they're unaware, that the speed limit for that vehicle,
0:24:29 > 0:24:31for that type of vehicle on a dual carriageway,
0:24:31 > 0:24:32is only 60mph and not 70.
0:24:32 > 0:24:34So, what I'll do is, as soon as I find a safe place,
0:24:34 > 0:24:38I'll stop the driver and see why he was travelling at 17mph
0:24:38 > 0:24:41over the speed limit for that type of vehicle.
0:24:41 > 0:24:44The problem is that... Certainly for the smaller goods vehicles,
0:24:44 > 0:24:47drivers either just decide they're going to travel above the limit
0:24:47 > 0:24:50or they just don't know the increased stopping distance,
0:24:50 > 0:24:52the harder it is to stop one of those vehicles.
0:24:52 > 0:24:54SIREN WHOOPS
0:24:54 > 0:24:56This gentleman knew... Yeah, he knew.
0:24:56 > 0:24:57He's been sitting, waiting for me.
0:25:05 > 0:25:09Good morning, sir. How are we doing? Any idea why I've stopped you?
0:25:09 > 0:25:11- Going a bit too fast.- You were going a bit too fast, weren't you?
0:25:11 > 0:25:14Switch it off, come and have a chat with me for two seconds
0:25:14 > 0:25:16and we'll take it from there.
0:25:16 > 0:25:19Delivery driver Sam uses the A1 regularly.
0:25:20 > 0:25:24And by breaking the speed limit, he's not only risking an accident,
0:25:24 > 0:25:26he's also risking his job.
0:25:26 > 0:25:29The reason why I've stopped you, Sam, as you quite rightly said,
0:25:29 > 0:25:31you were going a bit too fast on the dual carriageway there
0:25:31 > 0:25:33as you were coming up the hill, all right?
0:25:33 > 0:25:34What's the speed limit for your van?
0:25:36 > 0:25:3870? Yeah, OK.
0:25:38 > 0:25:39What makes you think that?
0:25:41 > 0:25:44That van, on a dual carriageway, it's only 60mph.
0:25:44 > 0:25:46And you're doing 77.
0:25:46 > 0:25:48If you thought it was 70, you're still speeding.
0:25:48 > 0:25:50Yes, it's only 7mph,
0:25:50 > 0:25:53but it's another 7mph faster, that's affecting your speed,
0:25:53 > 0:25:55your braking distance, your stopping distance,
0:25:55 > 0:25:57- all those sort of things.- Yeah.
0:25:57 > 0:26:00It's not a massive amount over, but, nevertheless, it's still over.
0:26:02 > 0:26:04Police will take into account driving history
0:26:04 > 0:26:07when deciding how to deal with a speeding offence.
0:26:09 > 0:26:10Thank you.
0:26:11 > 0:26:14- Have you been on a speed awareness course?- No.
0:26:14 > 0:26:15It'll cost you, OK?
0:26:15 > 0:26:17You don't get the point, you don't get the fine.
0:26:17 > 0:26:20So, unless you've got any other questions, you're free to go.
0:26:21 > 0:26:24Basically, I was just coming down the hill, I thought...
0:26:24 > 0:26:27I know I was going a little bit faster than I should have been.
0:26:27 > 0:26:29I think they could make the signage better.
0:26:29 > 0:26:32Put a sign up with different types of vehicles
0:26:32 > 0:26:34and tell you your speed limits.
0:26:34 > 0:26:37Obviously, now I know it's a 60mph limit,
0:26:37 > 0:26:39so I'll keep it to the limit that I know now.
0:26:40 > 0:26:43Sam drives off to finish his deliveries.
0:26:43 > 0:26:47He will need to complete a speed awareness course in the next six months.
0:26:49 > 0:26:51I think the trouble is, people pick up the Highway Code
0:26:51 > 0:26:53when they're doing their driving lessons
0:26:53 > 0:26:55and become very knowledgeable of it before that test.
0:26:55 > 0:26:58Once they're successful and pass that test,
0:26:58 > 0:27:01that Highway Code gets put on the shelf and gets forgotten about
0:27:01 > 0:27:04and it's never read again. So, I'm in favour of, every now and then,
0:27:04 > 0:27:07people should maybe have a look at it and just refresh themselves.
0:27:07 > 0:27:10I know all the speed limits for whatever vehicle I'm driving,
0:27:10 > 0:27:12so there's no reason why you shouldn't.
0:27:14 > 0:27:19Aside from the police, keeping the A1 safe and moving round the clock
0:27:19 > 0:27:21are scores of recovery companies.
0:27:21 > 0:27:25More than 180 miles south, near Grantham in Lincolnshire,
0:27:25 > 0:27:27specialist company Tinda-Lee
0:27:27 > 0:27:30deal with more than 16,000 calls every year.
0:27:36 > 0:27:39From helping HGVs to mending motorbikes,
0:27:39 > 0:27:43these specialists deal with vehicles of all shapes and sizes.
0:27:51 > 0:27:54Glenn has been a recovery driver for 25 years
0:27:54 > 0:27:57and today he has had an emergency call for a car stranded
0:27:57 > 0:27:59on the carriageway on the A1.
0:28:02 > 0:28:05If it is in a live lane, obviously it's in a dangerous location,
0:28:05 > 0:28:08then we'll speak to our control. We'll obviously speak to the police
0:28:08 > 0:28:10and see if we can get lane one closed
0:28:10 > 0:28:12to enable us to get there safely,
0:28:12 > 0:28:14to recover the vehicle or move the vehicle.
0:28:14 > 0:28:17The last thing we want to do is cause any accidents or collisions,
0:28:17 > 0:28:19or anything like that.
0:28:20 > 0:28:23Glenn knows working on the A1 can be a risky business.
0:28:23 > 0:28:25The people just don't slow down.
0:28:25 > 0:28:27We've one of our colleagues who had a vehicle in a ditch,
0:28:27 > 0:28:31we had one of our lorries there recovering the vehicle out of the ditch.
0:28:31 > 0:28:33Good visibility. HGV came down,
0:28:33 > 0:28:36never stopped and just ploughed straight into the vehicle.
0:28:36 > 0:28:40Thankfully, the car Glenn has been sent to recover this morning
0:28:40 > 0:28:41isn't in a live lane after all.
0:28:42 > 0:28:45The driver has managed to get to a lay-by.
0:28:45 > 0:28:47How are we doing?
0:28:47 > 0:28:48Are you all right?
0:28:48 > 0:28:50What's it done, lost its water?
0:28:57 > 0:28:58OK.
0:29:06 > 0:29:08Yeah. OK.
0:29:08 > 0:29:12Even in the lay-by, Glenn has to work quickly to avoid any danger.
0:29:13 > 0:29:16Right, know what he's done? He's got a water pipe what's split.
0:29:16 > 0:29:18We're going to recover him,
0:29:18 > 0:29:22obviously to a safer location than here, it's not the best of places to be.
0:29:22 > 0:29:24It doesn't take Glenn long
0:29:24 > 0:29:27to manoeuvre the car onto the back of his truck.
0:29:27 > 0:29:31And soon, he's safely on his way to a garage in Newark.
0:29:31 > 0:29:33He did the right thing, he got himself to the first lay-by,
0:29:33 > 0:29:36got himself pulled up, you know, not in the carriageway. Lovely.
0:29:40 > 0:29:43This has been a relatively straightforward job.
0:29:43 > 0:29:45The garage is going to have a look at it,
0:29:45 > 0:29:46obviously see what they can do for him.
0:29:46 > 0:29:49Hopefully get him on his way. We hope.
0:29:49 > 0:29:53Whether he's hauling away cars, horse boxes or heavy goods vehicles,
0:29:53 > 0:29:56Glenn knows no two shifts are ever the same.
0:29:59 > 0:30:02We do 30 to 40, maybe 50 jobs a day.
0:30:02 > 0:30:03A variety of them are on the A1,
0:30:03 > 0:30:07or we use the A1 to get to and from various jobs.
0:30:07 > 0:30:09And with hundreds of thousands of homes
0:30:09 > 0:30:12within his 70-mile patch of the A1,
0:30:12 > 0:30:15Glenn can also be called to more unusual recoveries.
0:30:15 > 0:30:17There's our guy down here.
0:30:19 > 0:30:23A van driver has lost his keys at a home just off the A1...
0:30:24 > 0:30:27..and has been blocking in three other drivers
0:30:27 > 0:30:28for the last three hours.
0:30:28 > 0:30:30How are we doing?
0:30:30 > 0:30:31All right?
0:30:33 > 0:30:34Where's the key?
0:30:36 > 0:30:40It's the morning after the night before for Ben and his friend Billy,
0:30:40 > 0:30:42who threw a party last night.
0:30:42 > 0:30:45But this morning, they aren't in the mood to celebrate.
0:30:46 > 0:30:49And neither are half their guests.
0:30:49 > 0:30:50When you locked it... Is it your van, yeah?
0:30:50 > 0:30:53- Yeah.- Did you just lock it once or did you double-lock it?
0:30:53 > 0:30:54- I don't know, to be fair.- OK.
0:30:54 > 0:30:56- I probably just pressed it once, to be fair.- OK.
0:30:56 > 0:30:58Any idea where the keys are? No?
0:30:58 > 0:31:00- Searched everywhere? - If I knew that...
0:31:00 > 0:31:03We must have been searching for a good three or four hours.
0:31:03 > 0:31:06- Right, OK.- Ten people, in his house, everywhere.
0:31:06 > 0:31:09Yeah, we'll get you off here as fast as we can.
0:31:09 > 0:31:11Glenn and his colleague Dave try using a rod
0:31:11 > 0:31:13to hook onto one of the door handles.
0:31:13 > 0:31:15No, you're going to slip off, Dave.
0:31:15 > 0:31:18There, Dave. There, Dave.
0:31:18 > 0:31:19Oh, Dave!
0:31:19 > 0:31:23If they can open a door, they should be able to release the handbrake...
0:31:23 > 0:31:25Right, pull the door handle at the same time.
0:31:26 > 0:31:28Yes, now. Pull it.
0:31:28 > 0:31:31..and then push the van out onto the road.
0:31:31 > 0:31:33No, you're not going to get it.
0:31:33 > 0:31:35It's deadlocked, mate. It's double locked.
0:31:35 > 0:31:36You ain't getting in there.
0:31:36 > 0:31:39These days, vehicle security really does the job!
0:31:41 > 0:31:43And since the van won't go to the truck,
0:31:43 > 0:31:45the truck will have to come to the van.
0:31:45 > 0:31:46Whoa!
0:31:48 > 0:31:50It's a tight space and a difficult manoeuvre.
0:31:53 > 0:31:55But Glenn makes it look easy.
0:31:57 > 0:31:58You just can't teach that.
0:32:00 > 0:32:02What we're going to do...
0:32:02 > 0:32:04We're going to get some attachments, we're going to on the wheels
0:32:04 > 0:32:06to bring the van up onto the body.
0:32:06 > 0:32:09Since the handbrake is still on and the wheels won't turn,
0:32:09 > 0:32:12Glenn needs to rely on one of the tricks of the trade.
0:32:12 > 0:32:14Do you see how the handbrake's locked?
0:32:14 > 0:32:16We've put some what we call Slippery Jims under it. Look.
0:32:16 > 0:32:18These go under the wheels.
0:32:18 > 0:32:20- OK, Dave?- Yeah.
0:32:20 > 0:32:22Just put the back straps on, mate, for now
0:32:22 > 0:32:23until we get it out of the drive.
0:32:23 > 0:32:25Then we'll free the road back up.
0:32:26 > 0:32:28I was very impressed with that.
0:32:28 > 0:32:30I thought it was going to take hours to get out of there.
0:32:30 > 0:32:34With Ben and his van safely on board the recovery truck,
0:32:34 > 0:32:38Glenn's job is almost done and Ben can finally get to work.
0:32:38 > 0:32:41There might not be a welcome for him, though,
0:32:41 > 0:32:42when, at last, he arrives.
0:32:42 > 0:32:45I'm going to be four hours late for work now because, obviously,
0:32:45 > 0:32:47I've left my...lost my keys.
0:32:47 > 0:32:49I just had this job just over a month,
0:32:49 > 0:32:52so they shouldn't be too happy, I don't reckon.
0:32:53 > 0:32:58A short time later, with Ben and his van safely delivered in one piece...
0:32:58 > 0:32:59See what else we've got.
0:32:59 > 0:33:03..Glenn can finally get back on the road and head back to the A1.
0:33:14 > 0:33:18It's midwinter in Newcastle and temperatures are way below freezing.
0:33:21 > 0:33:25A1 police officer PC Alan Keenleyside is heading out
0:33:25 > 0:33:28on the early shift to patrol his section of the road.
0:33:30 > 0:33:32When the alarm goes off and you open them curtains,
0:33:32 > 0:33:36it's a white frost or there's ice or snow and you're on the early turn,
0:33:36 > 0:33:39you think, unless it clears, unless it gets warmer,
0:33:39 > 0:33:40it's going to be a busy day.
0:33:40 > 0:33:45Out on the A1, it's not long before he spots an incident.
0:33:45 > 0:33:47We've come up behind a broken down wagon,
0:33:47 > 0:33:48which is getting its tyre fixed.
0:33:48 > 0:33:51I'm just going to make sure he's all right, doesn't need a hand.
0:33:54 > 0:33:58Are you all right, mate? Just seeing if you need a hand, that's all.
0:33:58 > 0:34:00- Thanks, all sorted. - Is it nearside or offside?
0:34:00 > 0:34:01- Nearside.- Nearside.
0:34:01 > 0:34:05But Alan suddenly catches sight of another vehicle on the carriageway.
0:34:06 > 0:34:08And immediately gives chase.
0:34:08 > 0:34:10SIREN WHOOPS
0:34:12 > 0:34:15Just as we were getting back in the vehicle there,
0:34:15 > 0:34:16I heard a car go past
0:34:16 > 0:34:18and when you work on the A1,
0:34:18 > 0:34:22you become aware of the sounds of vehicles travelling past you.
0:34:22 > 0:34:24And this vehicle didn't sound right.
0:34:24 > 0:34:27The contact of the tyres sounded wrong.
0:34:27 > 0:34:31When I looked at the tyre, it was really far down, underinflated.
0:34:31 > 0:34:33I think it was the back left tyre.
0:34:36 > 0:34:40If you brake heavily, or have to react in an emergency,
0:34:40 > 0:34:42your vehicle behaves differently.
0:34:42 > 0:34:46When you're travelling at 70mph, it's really, really dangerous.
0:34:50 > 0:34:51HORN TOOTS
0:34:53 > 0:34:54I want you in the slip road, mate.
0:35:00 > 0:35:01- Hello, how are you?- All right?
0:35:01 > 0:35:04I was just at a broken-down HGV.
0:35:04 > 0:35:08When you went past, I heard a sound coming from your vehicle, all right?
0:35:08 > 0:35:12When I had a look, your back tyre's actually really underinflated.
0:35:12 > 0:35:15- Oh, right.- Are you aware of that or not?- No, not today.
0:35:17 > 0:35:18It possibly is.
0:35:18 > 0:35:20It's well down, like, you know?
0:35:20 > 0:35:21So if I go like that...
0:35:23 > 0:35:26There's nothing in, and it's certainly severe enough
0:35:26 > 0:35:29for me to say to you, you need to leave the A1.
0:35:29 > 0:35:30Into that petrol station,
0:35:30 > 0:35:33get some air into it and then at least monitor it.
0:35:33 > 0:35:36- No problem.- But you need to know about that.
0:35:36 > 0:35:38It's a real safety issue, especially on these roads.
0:35:38 > 0:35:41- Right, we'll come off to the garage. - And get some air in.
0:35:41 > 0:35:42I just need to get the driver's details,
0:35:42 > 0:35:45- just check him out on the system. - All right.
0:35:45 > 0:35:49But the routine check brings up some surprising results.
0:35:49 > 0:35:50RADIO:
0:35:58 > 0:36:00Yes, yes, all received here, thanks.
0:36:00 > 0:36:03It appears that the driver potentially has an issue
0:36:03 > 0:36:05with regards to his driving licence,
0:36:05 > 0:36:07so I'm going to have to make some enquiries,
0:36:07 > 0:36:10but with straightforward words of advice,
0:36:10 > 0:36:11"You need some air in your tyre",
0:36:11 > 0:36:16as quite often is the case, I've got to say, is potentially...
0:36:16 > 0:36:17Excuse the pun, giving the weather,
0:36:17 > 0:36:20snowballing into something a little bit more.
0:36:22 > 0:36:23Right, can I have a quick word?
0:36:23 > 0:36:25- Yeah.- Just in my car, if that's all right.
0:36:25 > 0:36:28What's occurring, all right - I've just done some checks on you.
0:36:28 > 0:36:32You were disqualified in 2014-2015.
0:36:32 > 0:36:34- I believe I was, yes.- Yeah.- Aye.
0:36:34 > 0:36:37- It's shown that your...- With no insurance and stuff like that.
0:36:37 > 0:36:41That was it. It's shown that you haven't got a driving licence.
0:36:41 > 0:36:44It's saying that your licence has expired.
0:36:44 > 0:36:46It expired substantive.
0:36:46 > 0:36:49I wouldn't have thought it would have been expired. Did I...?
0:36:50 > 0:36:52Erm... Let's see...
0:36:54 > 0:36:55If you've been disqualified,
0:36:55 > 0:36:58- you need to apply for a new licence before you can drive.- Ah, right.
0:36:58 > 0:37:01Essentially, until you've done that, after you've been disqualified,
0:37:01 > 0:37:02you can't drive.
0:37:02 > 0:37:06I've had no notification saying that I had to reapply for my license.
0:37:06 > 0:37:08- Right.- I thought I was stopped from that time...
0:37:08 > 0:37:10- Yeah, yeah, yeah.- And then...
0:37:10 > 0:37:13- when that time was over, I could start again.- OK.
0:37:13 > 0:37:16With the driver's passenger also unable to drive,
0:37:16 > 0:37:20it leaves Alan with little choice about what to do with the vehicle.
0:37:20 > 0:37:23And now he has to interview the driver under caution.
0:37:23 > 0:37:25The vehicle needs to be seized.
0:37:25 > 0:37:27- Right.- All right? I'm going to caution you.
0:37:27 > 0:37:30You don't have to say anything, but it may harm your defence if you don't mention now
0:37:30 > 0:37:34something which you later rely on in court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence.
0:37:34 > 0:37:36There's no doubt in my mind that
0:37:36 > 0:37:39that driver will receive a summons in the post to attend court.
0:37:40 > 0:37:43The Road Traffic Act's there to be followed.
0:37:43 > 0:37:45If you drive a car or a van, or a wagon,
0:37:45 > 0:37:48you've got to make sure you've got the license and insurance to do it,
0:37:48 > 0:37:50and if you don't, you're going to have to take those consequences.
0:37:52 > 0:37:55People are driving around without insurance, without driving licences.
0:37:55 > 0:37:58All it takes is you get a little puncture, policeman sees it,
0:37:58 > 0:38:03policeman stops you, and all of a sudden, that's it, you're...
0:38:03 > 0:38:05You're captured. There's no getting away from it.
0:38:05 > 0:38:08Nice guy, but...
0:38:08 > 0:38:10driving without a licence on the A1.
0:38:15 > 0:38:20The police caught 14,000 drivers without a licence last year
0:38:20 > 0:38:21and numbers are on the rise.
0:38:27 > 0:38:30More than 40 miles south, near Darlington,
0:38:30 > 0:38:32an unusual and precious cargo
0:38:32 > 0:38:34is still on the move.
0:38:36 > 0:38:40Reptile specialists Chris and Adrian are transporting six young alligators
0:38:40 > 0:38:45from Five Sisters zoo near Edinburgh to their new home in Oxfordshire.
0:38:45 > 0:38:47There is no bumping or banging going on,
0:38:47 > 0:38:51which is telling us that they're not moving,
0:38:51 > 0:38:53which means they're in a settled state.
0:38:53 > 0:38:55They'll be lying there, sleeping.
0:38:55 > 0:38:58They're probably enjoying the journey better than us
0:38:58 > 0:39:02because they're in their boxes, lying on a bed of soft straw
0:39:02 > 0:39:05and it's a typical reptile thing to,
0:39:05 > 0:39:09the minute you're plunged into darkness, you just go into, like,
0:39:09 > 0:39:11a calm sort of settled mode.
0:39:12 > 0:39:15It's still well below freezing outside,
0:39:15 > 0:39:18so they decided to pull into a service station
0:39:18 > 0:39:20to check on the alligators.
0:39:21 > 0:39:25Get ourselves up into a suitable parking space.
0:39:25 > 0:39:28That way, we can just do temperature checks and just make sure
0:39:28 > 0:39:29everything's all right.
0:39:29 > 0:39:31Will their efforts over the last couple of hours
0:39:31 > 0:39:35to heat the van up have made a difference to the alligators?
0:39:35 > 0:39:37- 17.- OK.
0:39:38 > 0:39:4117 degrees Celsius, which is...
0:39:42 > 0:39:45..warmer than we would've expected to have got,
0:39:45 > 0:39:46so we're delighted with that.
0:39:46 > 0:39:50But the temperature in the other two boxes has not risen
0:39:50 > 0:39:52as much as they would like.
0:39:52 > 0:39:55- 13.6.- That's left hand, is it? - Left hand, yeah.
0:39:56 > 0:39:5713.8.
0:39:59 > 0:40:02OK, so it's still a little bit cooler than I would like for
0:40:02 > 0:40:04optimum comfort for the animals,
0:40:04 > 0:40:07but we're basically doing as much as we possibly can with what we've got.
0:40:09 > 0:40:11They get back on the road again,
0:40:11 > 0:40:13hoping to keep those temperatures up.
0:40:15 > 0:40:19Now, close to their destination, they call ahead.
0:40:19 > 0:40:21We're about half an hour away.
0:40:21 > 0:40:24Just to ask what, if anything,
0:40:24 > 0:40:26you want me and Adrian to do when we actually arrive,
0:40:26 > 0:40:28how involved you want us to be.
0:40:29 > 0:40:33Having reared these alligators over the last three years,
0:40:33 > 0:40:36it's going to be tough for Chris and Adrian to say goodbye.
0:40:36 > 0:40:39We've been involved with them for a very long time
0:40:39 > 0:40:43in terms of the growth and bringing them on, and...
0:40:43 > 0:40:45just the general care.
0:40:45 > 0:40:48- I would like to see them out of the boxes, personally.- Yeah.
0:40:53 > 0:40:55The six will be joining the breeding programme
0:40:55 > 0:40:58at this specialist reptile centre near Oxford.
0:41:00 > 0:41:04Centre director Shaun Foggett is waiting for his new arrivals.
0:41:04 > 0:41:07And despite today's freezing temperatures,
0:41:07 > 0:41:09the alligators have arrived unscathed.
0:41:09 > 0:41:11Temperature all still...?
0:41:11 > 0:41:13It wasn't quite as warm as I would have liked,
0:41:13 > 0:41:16we were upper teens for most of it.
0:41:16 > 0:41:19- OK.- It's still adequate, just not as comfortable as they would have liked.
0:41:19 > 0:41:21- Let's get them in the warm. - Yeah.- Yeah, perfect.
0:41:21 > 0:41:23We were cooking, mind you.
0:41:23 > 0:41:25- I'm sure we were less comfortable than they were!- Yeah.
0:41:28 > 0:41:31Before Shaun can get these reptiles bedded down and warmed up,
0:41:31 > 0:41:35he and his team need to give them a quick health check to make sure
0:41:35 > 0:41:37they're not too stressed from their journey.
0:41:37 > 0:41:41Any animal that comes into our collection, even though these guys
0:41:41 > 0:41:43have taken some of their statistics here,
0:41:43 > 0:41:46we would just take it, just double-check it
0:41:46 > 0:41:47and check for microchips,
0:41:47 > 0:41:49check the health of the animal.
0:41:53 > 0:41:57It won't be long before these young alligators are fully settled
0:41:57 > 0:41:58into their new surroundings.
0:41:59 > 0:42:01But having reared them,
0:42:01 > 0:42:04it's a bittersweet moment for Adrian and Chris.
0:42:07 > 0:42:10Well, of course, Digit will always hold a wee soft spot in our hearts.
0:42:10 > 0:42:12We had worked with him quite a lot.
0:42:12 > 0:42:14Especially when they first arrived in the collection,
0:42:14 > 0:42:17we had our issues with him, so we're a little bit closer to him.
0:42:17 > 0:42:20And even just him being recognisable outwith the group
0:42:20 > 0:42:22makes him that little bit more special to us,
0:42:22 > 0:42:23so we'll be sad to see him go.
0:42:24 > 0:42:27The day's not over for them yet, though.
0:42:27 > 0:42:32It's a 400-mile journey home, so time to head back to the A1.
0:42:42 > 0:42:46The driver caught with no licence received three points on his record
0:42:46 > 0:42:50and had to pay almost £200 in costs.
0:42:50 > 0:42:52The delivery driver caught speeding
0:42:52 > 0:42:55has still to attend his speed awareness course.
0:42:55 > 0:42:58And after locking himself out of his hired van,
0:42:58 > 0:43:00Ben ended up having to hire another one.
0:43:01 > 0:43:04Next time, a dangerous breakdown in the fast lane...
0:43:06 > 0:43:10..spells double trouble for A1 traffic offices.
0:43:10 > 0:43:11Is that driveable or not?
0:43:11 > 0:43:13Can that drive?
0:43:13 > 0:43:14A rush-hour rollover...
0:43:14 > 0:43:17God knows how that lorry's overturned.
0:43:17 > 0:43:20..threatens a horse trainer's hopes of making the big race.
0:43:20 > 0:43:2220-minute delay, which is not good.
0:43:24 > 0:43:28And police put the brakes on a DIY disaster.
0:43:28 > 0:43:31That's a canny effort of getting the registration number on the van.
0:43:31 > 0:43:34Which, at least it's on there, but it's not the right way it should be done.