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 > 0:00:13to the heart of the Scottish capital.
0:00:13 > 0:00:17Connecting two nations and passing through 18 counties.
0:00:17 > 0:00:22It's an unrivalled 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.
0:00:47 > 0:00:4924 hours a day...
0:00:49 > 0:00:51It's not a safe place here.
0:00:51 > 0:00:53..there's a team of people who keep us safe from harm.
0:00:55 > 0:00:56The police...
0:00:58 > 0:00:59..response teams...
0:00:59 > 0:01:01We don't know whether they've got the road closed or...
0:01:01 > 0:01:04- we don't know what happened. - ..and traffic officers...
0:01:06 > 0:01:07Keep going.
0:01:08 > 0:01:11..keeping Britain's most iconic road...
0:01:11 > 0:01:13- Get out!- ..on the move.
0:01:14 > 0:01:17Substantially damaged flatbed truck in lane two.
0:01:18 > 0:01:22The A1, the monster that it is, will start returning to normal.
0:01:25 > 0:01:26Coming up...
0:01:27 > 0:01:30A dangerous breakdown in the fast lane
0:01:30 > 0:01:34spells double trouble for A1 traffic officers.
0:01:34 > 0:01:36Is that driveable or not?
0:01:36 > 0:01:37Can that drive?
0:01:39 > 0:01:41The rush-hour rollover...
0:01:41 > 0:01:43God knows how that lorry's overturned.
0:01:43 > 0:01:46..threatens a horse trainer's hopes of making the big race.
0:01:46 > 0:01:50The 20-minute delay is not good.
0:01:50 > 0:01:54And police put the brakes on a DIY disaster.
0:01:54 > 0:01:58That's a canny effort of getting the registration number on the van.
0:01:58 > 0:02:01At least it's on there but it's not the right way it should be done.
0:02:02 > 0:02:07There are more than 2,000 accidents on the A1 every year,
0:02:07 > 0:02:10and more than 160 of them occur on a ten-mile stretch
0:02:10 > 0:02:12of the road near Newcastle.
0:02:14 > 0:02:17It's rush hour on a Friday afternoon,
0:02:17 > 0:02:21one of the busiest times of the week for bumps and shunts.
0:02:21 > 0:02:24A1 patrol officer PC Alan Keenleyside
0:02:24 > 0:02:29is battling to make his way to the scene of a three-vehicle pile-up.
0:02:29 > 0:02:32Southbound on the A1, just at the MetroCentre now, two,
0:02:32 > 0:02:34two and a half miles away from the incident.
0:02:34 > 0:02:37We're already starting to see brake lights up ahead.
0:02:37 > 0:02:40We need to get there, make that nice and safe,
0:02:40 > 0:02:42and see exactly what's going on.
0:02:43 > 0:02:47First reports suggest the accident has happened in the outside lane,
0:02:47 > 0:02:49often the scene of the most serious collisions.
0:02:51 > 0:02:54Time's really of the essence today.
0:02:54 > 0:02:55We can't afford to hang around.
0:02:57 > 0:02:59When you start getting collisions in the outside lane,
0:02:59 > 0:03:01there's quite often a fair bit of speed involved.
0:03:01 > 0:03:03There's a lot of energy involved in the collision.
0:03:03 > 0:03:06Really, until we get there and see what's happened,
0:03:06 > 0:03:08it's hard to prejudge.
0:03:08 > 0:03:11But with the accident causing virtual gridlock,
0:03:11 > 0:03:14vital seconds are being lost.
0:03:14 > 0:03:15HORN SOUNDS
0:03:15 > 0:03:18I'll give her a blast of the air horn.
0:03:18 > 0:03:21AIR HORN SOUNDS
0:03:21 > 0:03:24We'll never push people, or shout,
0:03:24 > 0:03:28or have a go at anybody for doing the wrong thing.
0:03:28 > 0:03:30People generally try and help to get you through.
0:03:30 > 0:03:32At the end of the day, if we don't get through,
0:03:32 > 0:03:35they don't get home because they're still stuck behind.
0:03:38 > 0:03:39Tango 12-34.
0:03:39 > 0:03:43At the scene, Alan soon discovers that two lanes are blocked...
0:03:43 > 0:03:46Currently taking out lane two and three.
0:03:46 > 0:03:48..with only a trickle of cars able to get through.
0:03:51 > 0:03:53So, I've just given them an update on the radio there.
0:03:53 > 0:03:56That now buys me that time to get down there,
0:03:56 > 0:03:57find out what's going on,
0:03:57 > 0:03:59and give people the help that they need.
0:04:01 > 0:04:04Two white vans and a car have been badly damaged,
0:04:04 > 0:04:07and the Fire Brigade are already at the scene.
0:04:07 > 0:04:08You all right, guys?
0:04:09 > 0:04:14It's looking like a typical rear-end shunt here on the A1.
0:04:14 > 0:04:16Luckily, we're not looking at any serious injuries.
0:04:16 > 0:04:19We're just actually working out a plan now to get that vehicle moved
0:04:19 > 0:04:21and then deal with this collision off the A1
0:04:21 > 0:04:23and get that backlog of traffic cleared.
0:04:23 > 0:04:26But clearly, we need to make sure we can do that safely.
0:04:26 > 0:04:31For van driver Keith Grazier, the crash came out of nowhere.
0:04:31 > 0:04:33Basically, slammed the brakes on.
0:04:35 > 0:04:36It was too quick to happen.
0:04:36 > 0:04:38It was just too quick.
0:04:38 > 0:04:40So I went into the back.
0:04:40 > 0:04:43With its front end smashed, the Corsa is a write-off.
0:04:43 > 0:04:47But fortunately, driver Gareth Edwards has got off lightly.
0:04:47 > 0:04:51I'm all right. A few cuts and that. I'll be all right.
0:04:51 > 0:04:54He travels up the A1 to Scotland twice a week
0:04:54 > 0:04:55from his home in Doncaster,
0:04:55 > 0:04:59but it's the first time he's been involved in a crash himself.
0:04:59 > 0:05:03I was travelling down here about 30, 40 feet behind that car in front.
0:05:03 > 0:05:05He's basically slammed on.
0:05:05 > 0:05:08I tried my best to stop but basically I didn't have a chance.
0:05:08 > 0:05:11I've sat in it many times when it's happened and I've just thought,
0:05:11 > 0:05:13"What are they doing? Why has this happened?
0:05:13 > 0:05:15"Should be paying attention."
0:05:15 > 0:05:17Causes mayhem, doesn't it?
0:05:17 > 0:05:19I'm used to traffic and accidents,
0:05:19 > 0:05:23I've just never been in one before today.
0:05:23 > 0:05:24HE CHUCKLES
0:05:24 > 0:05:26With no major injuries,
0:05:26 > 0:05:29Alan's priority is to get the road reopened.
0:05:29 > 0:05:31That's going to need a full lift, the van.
0:05:31 > 0:05:33Yeah, back end's knackered. I've just had a look.
0:05:33 > 0:05:37But his hopes of easing the Friday rush-hour congestion
0:05:37 > 0:05:38quickly hit a snag.
0:05:39 > 0:05:41A little bit of a situation.
0:05:41 > 0:05:44We were hoping to reopen lane two.
0:05:44 > 0:05:45Because of the proximity of the vehicles,
0:05:45 > 0:05:48we need to protect my colleague here, who's recovering the vehicles.
0:05:48 > 0:05:52We've actually also got a bit of oil which has developed in lane two.
0:05:52 > 0:05:56So my colleagues from Highways England are actually going to get
0:05:56 > 0:05:58some oil dry on, brush it in.
0:05:58 > 0:06:01While we've got this lane closed, try to get as much of this cleansed
0:06:01 > 0:06:04so the road's nice and safe when we get it reopened.
0:06:07 > 0:06:10It's taken around half an hour for Alan and his colleagues to clear
0:06:10 > 0:06:13the crash and make the A1 safe again.
0:06:15 > 0:06:17Universal thumbs up.
0:06:17 > 0:06:19International language of the road.
0:06:21 > 0:06:23As Alan heads north,
0:06:23 > 0:06:26he soon sees from the tailbacks just how much the crash has affected
0:06:26 > 0:06:28traffic along the road.
0:06:30 > 0:06:33That collision couldn't have come at a worse time because this road
0:06:33 > 0:06:36starts to build up anyway round about this sort of time,
0:06:36 > 0:06:39so potentially could be an unrecoverable situation.
0:06:39 > 0:06:43That road may not recover until post-rush hour.
0:06:43 > 0:06:47We could be looking at about four to five miles of standard traffic for
0:06:47 > 0:06:48this time of night.
0:06:49 > 0:06:53Of course, now, if we get another incident south,
0:06:53 > 0:06:55I've got to get through this.
0:06:55 > 0:06:56This is where the local knowledge kicks in.
0:06:56 > 0:06:58We may end up using some alternative routes.
0:06:58 > 0:07:01Even though the A1's the quickest way to get around the region,
0:07:01 > 0:07:03sometimes we've got to get off the A1
0:07:03 > 0:07:05to get where we want to be quickly.
0:07:11 > 0:07:15Keeping the A1 moving is a 24/7 job.
0:07:15 > 0:07:18It's not only accidents which can cause snarl-ups.
0:07:18 > 0:07:23Every year, Highways England traffic officers deal with more than 4,000
0:07:23 > 0:07:25breakdowns on the road.
0:07:25 > 0:07:26But by far the most dangerous
0:07:26 > 0:07:30is when a car comes to a stop in the outside lane.
0:07:32 > 0:07:37Peter Senior and Scott Wilson are hurrying to a high-risk situation
0:07:37 > 0:07:39on the A1 at Newcastle.
0:07:41 > 0:07:44We're just currently turning at junction 74 to attend.
0:07:44 > 0:07:47We should be on the scene in a few minutes. Over.
0:07:47 > 0:07:52A car is stranded in the outside lane at the busiest time of day.
0:07:52 > 0:07:53The driver's pregnant.
0:07:53 > 0:07:58So, for the traffic officers, it's a grade-one priority case.
0:07:58 > 0:07:59329 received.
0:07:59 > 0:08:02Whether we're able to move the vehicle or not, I don't know.
0:08:02 > 0:08:06But due to the location, it may be worth getting CF travelling. Over.
0:08:06 > 0:08:08The risk of a pile-up here is huge.
0:08:08 > 0:08:11And with traffic on the other carriageway slowing to look,
0:08:11 > 0:08:15there's also the possibility of a collision there, too.
0:08:15 > 0:08:19If you get control of the traffic, I'll go and have a...
0:08:19 > 0:08:20word.
0:08:21 > 0:08:25With lives in danger, Peter and Scott must act fast.
0:08:25 > 0:08:29The priority has to be to get the stranded driver to safety.
0:08:29 > 0:08:31Next, they must warn other drivers
0:08:31 > 0:08:34in the hope of preventing a high-speed pile-up.
0:08:34 > 0:08:36So, what's happening with this vehicle at the minute,
0:08:36 > 0:08:38it's got total loss of power.
0:08:38 > 0:08:41So we've got a recovery agent on the way.
0:08:41 > 0:08:46Peter and Scott have done all they can to keep everyone safe,
0:08:46 > 0:08:50but already the breakdown is becoming a dangerous distraction to other road users.
0:08:50 > 0:08:52THUMP
0:08:53 > 0:08:57And now this case has just got more serious.
0:08:57 > 0:09:00As you can see, over the road, there's been an RTC.
0:09:00 > 0:09:02Whether this is down to rubbernecking or what,
0:09:02 > 0:09:05or someone being on the phone or anything, I don't know.
0:09:05 > 0:09:07With us already dealing with a live lane over here,
0:09:07 > 0:09:09we can't go over there and deal with it.
0:09:09 > 0:09:14There's a high risk of serious injury when crashing at such high speeds.
0:09:14 > 0:09:17Scott's concerned about the drivers.
0:09:17 > 0:09:19Excuse me. Do you need an ambulance?
0:09:19 > 0:09:22No? You're all right? Is that driveable or not?
0:09:22 > 0:09:23Can that drive?
0:09:25 > 0:09:26That can, yeah?
0:09:26 > 0:09:28The cars are badly damaged
0:09:28 > 0:09:31but at least they can leave the A1 without assistance.
0:09:31 > 0:09:36It means Scott and Peter can now focus on the original incident.
0:09:36 > 0:09:40It's not uncommon that this happens because quite often we're busy
0:09:40 > 0:09:42dealing with an incident on one carriageway,
0:09:42 > 0:09:45people on the other side start trying to look across
0:09:45 > 0:09:48to see what we're dealing with and, you know,
0:09:48 > 0:09:49they lose that concentration.
0:09:51 > 0:09:52And that's what can happen.
0:09:54 > 0:09:56As the incident has been classed as a priority,
0:09:56 > 0:09:59Peter and Scott have arranged for a recovery truck
0:09:59 > 0:10:02to be sent to the scene as soon as possible.
0:10:04 > 0:10:08At the moment, Scott's down by the initial part of the closure.
0:10:08 > 0:10:10He's just watching the traffic.
0:10:10 > 0:10:13The priority now is just get the truck on,
0:10:13 > 0:10:16get the car away and the lady to a safe place.
0:10:17 > 0:10:20A police car is now at the scene to assist with the safe reopening of
0:10:20 > 0:10:24the lane. Meanwhile, the pregnant driver will be taken away
0:10:24 > 0:10:25in the recovery vehicle.
0:10:27 > 0:10:30What's happening now is the police are closing off lane three with
0:10:30 > 0:10:33their vehicle, giving us protection to be able to remove our closure.
0:10:33 > 0:10:36I'm just going to give my colleague a hand now to lift the gear in.
0:10:37 > 0:10:42Half an hour after first arriving on the scene, the carriageway is clear.
0:10:43 > 0:10:45And Peter and Scott can reopen the lane,
0:10:45 > 0:10:49confident that their actions have helped a driver in peril in a case
0:10:49 > 0:10:52that could have been a whole lot worse.
0:10:52 > 0:10:55Unfortunately, as well, the young lady,
0:10:55 > 0:10:58she decided just to sit in the car till help could arrive.
0:10:58 > 0:11:00In a situation like that,
0:11:00 > 0:11:04what people really need to do is get out of the vehicle and get behind
0:11:04 > 0:11:07a safety barrier until help arrives.
0:11:07 > 0:11:11It was just fortunate we were in the right place at the right time
0:11:11 > 0:11:14to get to her quickly. It is a frightening experience,
0:11:14 > 0:11:17someone being stuck in lane three of a carriageway.
0:11:21 > 0:11:25Nearly 140 miles south, off the A1 in Worksop in Nottinghamshire,
0:11:25 > 0:11:28a racing stables is preparing for a big day.
0:11:33 > 0:11:37Horse trainer Shaun Harris is taking his prized thoroughbred
0:11:37 > 0:11:39on a three-hour journey up the A1.
0:11:42 > 0:11:43Good lad.
0:11:43 > 0:11:46They're heading to Newcastle Racecourse
0:11:46 > 0:11:47to take part in a flat race sprint.
0:11:47 > 0:11:49I forgot to turn the water on.
0:11:49 > 0:11:51Horse racing is in Shaun's blood.
0:11:51 > 0:11:54My mum and dad met in Newmarket and got married,
0:11:54 > 0:11:56so I've been around horses all my life.
0:11:56 > 0:11:58My dad used to do the horse transport,
0:11:58 > 0:12:02so I used to sit alongside him, on to the races all the time.
0:12:02 > 0:12:05So, born and bred with it, really.
0:12:05 > 0:12:09And he's optimistic about his star horse's chances.
0:12:09 > 0:12:13This is Tommy. Racing name Roy's Legacy.
0:12:13 > 0:12:18He's seven years old, won 15 races, hopefully win some more yet.
0:12:18 > 0:12:20Hopefully today.
0:12:21 > 0:12:24Shaun's used to driving up and down the A1.
0:12:24 > 0:12:27Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait.
0:12:27 > 0:12:28Between Worksop and Edinburgh,
0:12:28 > 0:12:32there are nine racecourses within just eight miles of the road.
0:12:34 > 0:12:36And Tommy, or Roy's Legacy,
0:12:36 > 0:12:39has attracted quite a fan club on the racing circuit.
0:12:40 > 0:12:43He has fan mail. People send him Polos.
0:12:43 > 0:12:46He's quite a celebrity, in a small way.
0:12:47 > 0:12:52Just because he's raced so many times that he's become a favourite
0:12:52 > 0:12:53of punters, I guess.
0:12:53 > 0:12:56He's the only horse I've ever had which gets fan mail.
0:12:56 > 0:12:58HE LAUGHS
0:12:58 > 0:13:01I have bet on him in the past but I don't normally bet.
0:13:01 > 0:13:06I tend to be an unlucky punter, so I don't want to jinx them.
0:13:06 > 0:13:09He's got a good chance. We think he'll be in the first three.
0:13:11 > 0:13:15With a long drive of more than 140 miles up the A1 ahead...
0:13:15 > 0:13:19- Good boy.- ..Shaun and his son, Ciaran, need to get a gallop on.
0:13:21 > 0:13:22Good boy, Tommy.
0:13:35 > 0:13:40Shaun and Ciaran know that transporting horses on the A1 can be tricky.
0:13:41 > 0:13:45Occasionally, there's times where there's multiple crashes
0:13:45 > 0:13:47and the A1's completely blocked.
0:13:47 > 0:13:48You just can't go anywhere.
0:13:48 > 0:13:50The horses don't like to be stood still.
0:13:50 > 0:13:53They're quite happy to be travelling in a horse box.
0:13:53 > 0:13:55If you're stood still, they get a bit restless.
0:13:55 > 0:14:00I've known plenty of horror stories where the horse has gone mad
0:14:00 > 0:14:04and kicked the box to bits and the Fire Brigade has had
0:14:04 > 0:14:06to cut the horse out of the box.
0:14:06 > 0:14:10If they panic, they can break through a door, no problem.
0:14:14 > 0:14:17And the A1's design doesn't help, either.
0:14:17 > 0:14:18They're very short slip roads.
0:14:18 > 0:14:2050 yards long.
0:14:20 > 0:14:21There's a car coming on now.
0:14:21 > 0:14:23They just pull out in front of you.
0:14:23 > 0:14:25Yeah. There's a lorry wanting to get in.
0:14:25 > 0:14:28You have to slam on when they do that, pretty much.
0:14:28 > 0:14:32Which, in a horse box, is the last thing you want to be doing
0:14:32 > 0:14:36is emergency braking, so we try and anticipate.
0:14:36 > 0:14:39Some horses, as soon as they feel the horse box rocking,
0:14:39 > 0:14:43or tilting slightly, they tend to panic and start scrabbling.
0:14:43 > 0:14:46Of course they don't have any seat belts or anything like that, so...
0:14:46 > 0:14:48The main thing is to give them a smooth ride.
0:14:51 > 0:14:52Here comes the rain.
0:14:53 > 0:14:55I can't see very well, I don't know about Ciaran.
0:14:56 > 0:14:5838 miles to Newcastle.
0:14:59 > 0:15:03But the weather could put paid to their carefully-planned itinerary.
0:15:07 > 0:15:11The A1 is congested between 60 and 61, is it?
0:15:11 > 0:15:14- Yeah. That's what the matrix said. - It's not good.
0:15:14 > 0:15:17You feel helpless. You can't do nothing about it.
0:15:17 > 0:15:19That's the worst part about it.
0:15:22 > 0:15:28The event is expected to clear between 2.45 and 3. My God!
0:15:29 > 0:15:31That doesn't sound good.
0:15:31 > 0:15:34With the first race in just an hour and a half,
0:15:34 > 0:15:37will stationary traffic prevent Roy's Legacy
0:15:37 > 0:15:39coming under starter's orders?
0:15:42 > 0:15:44More than 40 miles north,
0:15:44 > 0:15:47the police are turning their attention to problems along the road
0:15:47 > 0:15:49which are of a criminal nature.
0:15:51 > 0:15:55PC Alan Keenleyside is on the lookout for drivers with no MOT or
0:15:55 > 0:15:59insurance and any passing him will be caught by his onboard camera,
0:15:59 > 0:16:01which will trigger an alarm.
0:16:03 > 0:16:04I'm just looking at a transit van.
0:16:07 > 0:16:09A couple of cars up in the slow lane
0:16:09 > 0:16:12and it's shown us the MOT expired on the vehicle.
0:16:12 > 0:16:15I'll stop the driver, just have a quick word with him
0:16:15 > 0:16:16and advise him of that.
0:16:18 > 0:16:21That's handy. He's taken the off slip.
0:16:21 > 0:16:24It's a job Alan has done countless times.
0:16:26 > 0:16:28Morning, mate. Are you all right?
0:16:28 > 0:16:31The reason I've stopped you, all right,
0:16:31 > 0:16:34is I've just done a check on the radio and your vehicle is showing as
0:16:34 > 0:16:36the MOT expired back in January.
0:16:36 > 0:16:38Come jump in my car just for two seconds.
0:16:38 > 0:16:40I'll do some checks. Just take the back seat in there.
0:16:40 > 0:16:42I'll just have a quick word with you.
0:16:42 > 0:16:44But, on this occasion,
0:16:44 > 0:16:49Alan's instinct tells him today is going to be anything but routine.
0:16:49 > 0:16:52Thought I caught a waft of cannabis before.
0:16:53 > 0:16:56I've got a bit of a sniffer dog type nose for that,
0:16:56 > 0:16:58so I'm just going to have a word with this driver
0:16:58 > 0:17:00and see what he's got to say.
0:17:00 > 0:17:02New laws introduced two years ago
0:17:02 > 0:17:05set a legal limit for the amount of drugs in a driver's system
0:17:05 > 0:17:08and improved roadside tests mean cases
0:17:08 > 0:17:10can now be investigated much more easily.
0:17:10 > 0:17:13When I opened the door in the van, I got a waft of cannabis.
0:17:13 > 0:17:15- Do you have any on you? - No, it's not me.
0:17:15 > 0:17:17Do you use cannabis at all or anything like that?
0:17:17 > 0:17:19Occasionally, but not today.
0:17:19 > 0:17:21Right. Not today. No use at all.
0:17:21 > 0:17:25Having no MOT could be the least of this driver's problems.
0:17:25 > 0:17:28Because I got a smell of it, all right, I'll give you a quick search.
0:17:28 > 0:17:31But I'm also going to go through a roadside testing procedure.
0:17:31 > 0:17:34- Right.- It'll take a few minutes just to quickly go through that.
0:17:34 > 0:17:36Here's a question. What's your date of birth?
0:17:36 > 0:17:38- Today.- You were born today?!
0:17:38 > 0:17:40Many happy returns. How old are you?
0:17:40 > 0:17:43- Thank you very much. 37.- 37.
0:17:43 > 0:17:47Alan cautions the driver before delivering some unpalatable news.
0:17:49 > 0:17:53So, you're now required to provide a specimen of saliva as I have
0:17:53 > 0:17:56reasonable cause to suspect you of driving a motor vehicle
0:17:56 > 0:18:00having a specified drug in your body.
0:18:00 > 0:18:03- OK.- It's not particularly nice, all right.
0:18:03 > 0:18:07You hold your tongue out. What we do is we just swab three times,
0:18:07 > 0:18:10three or four times down onto those sensors there.
0:18:10 > 0:18:12All right. Keep going.
0:18:12 > 0:18:14Keep going. Keep going. That's it.
0:18:14 > 0:18:16Thank you.
0:18:16 > 0:18:18- Not a very nice job, is it?- No.
0:18:18 > 0:18:22Now we hold it flat and it can take somewhere in the region of about
0:18:22 > 0:18:26eight minutes for that to come up. OK.
0:18:26 > 0:18:28Just a bit of a waiting game on that one now.
0:18:28 > 0:18:31While Alan has been interviewing the driver, his colleague,
0:18:31 > 0:18:35PC Darren Lant, has been up ahead searching the van.
0:18:35 > 0:18:38Is it your van, is it, or a company van?
0:18:38 > 0:18:41All right. OK. Anything in the van you shouldn't have?
0:18:44 > 0:18:46You've just got it this morning, have you?
0:18:48 > 0:18:51Certainly look after their vehicle, don't they?
0:18:51 > 0:18:53There's an experiment growing in that one, I think.
0:18:54 > 0:18:58And the driver's nightmare start to his birthday looks like it's about
0:18:58 > 0:19:00to get a whole lot worse.
0:19:03 > 0:19:05We've searched the van.
0:19:05 > 0:19:09Inside this bag of half-eaten stotties and sandwiches and...
0:19:11 > 0:19:14..drinks cans, there was some of this cannabis bush here.
0:19:14 > 0:19:19So we'll give this to Alan and take it from there and see what the lads
0:19:19 > 0:19:22have got to say about it. It might mean that we have to take the van
0:19:22 > 0:19:24away and get it checked over properly by a drugs dog.
0:19:24 > 0:19:26Have you got a drugs bag in your car?
0:19:26 > 0:19:28- I've got a bag.- Get the bag, please.
0:19:28 > 0:19:32With the driver's roadside drug test nearing its conclusion,
0:19:32 > 0:19:35Alan has another discovery that's going to need some explaining.
0:19:42 > 0:19:44Nearly an hour's journey south,
0:19:44 > 0:19:48two other road users are facing a very different tricky situation.
0:19:51 > 0:19:53Horse trainer Shaun Harris and his son Ciaran
0:19:53 > 0:19:56are partway through a 140-mile journey north
0:19:56 > 0:20:00along the A1 from Nottinghamshire to Newcastle racecourse.
0:20:00 > 0:20:02Their prize colt, Roy's Legacy,
0:20:02 > 0:20:07is due to take part in a race but now they've hit major traffic.
0:20:07 > 0:20:10- You've got to be at the racecourse half an hour before the race.- Yeah.
0:20:10 > 0:20:13I think if you're not going to get there half an hour before,
0:20:13 > 0:20:15it's a waste of time going.
0:20:16 > 0:20:18But it's soon clear what the problem is.
0:20:18 > 0:20:21- I can see a lorry. - An overturned lorry.
0:20:21 > 0:20:22I can see an overturned lorry.
0:20:24 > 0:20:26And it's not even windy. God knows what's happened there!
0:20:26 > 0:20:28Oh, great.
0:20:28 > 0:20:30A car's going down the side.
0:20:30 > 0:20:33What gives him the right to go all the way to the end, do you know?
0:20:33 > 0:20:35We're more in a rush than he is.
0:20:35 > 0:20:38I feel we should get special dispensation to go on
0:20:38 > 0:20:42the hard shoulder with horses, but I'm sure the police won't let me.
0:20:42 > 0:20:44God knows how that lorry's overturned!
0:20:44 > 0:20:47How's it overturned like that?
0:20:47 > 0:20:50You couldn't do that. If you tried to do that in a stunt,
0:20:50 > 0:20:51you wouldn't be able to do it.
0:20:51 > 0:20:55The centre... The barriers in the middle stopped him,
0:20:55 > 0:20:57stopped him from going over this side.
0:20:59 > 0:21:02Finally, their horsebox clears the congestion.
0:21:02 > 0:21:05I'm feeling relieved that we've got moving again.
0:21:05 > 0:21:06I'm glad we're not going that way.
0:21:07 > 0:21:10Else we'd have been late.
0:21:10 > 0:21:12We've got two runners.
0:21:12 > 0:21:15If we didn't get to the races, that's two nonrunners.
0:21:15 > 0:21:19All the owners still pay the same costs to get to the races but don't
0:21:19 > 0:21:22get anything for it. They don't get a run for their money, if you like.
0:21:30 > 0:21:33With just 40 minutes to spare before the first race,
0:21:33 > 0:21:36Shaun and Ciaran finally arrive at the course.
0:21:36 > 0:21:38We're here now, Tommy.
0:21:39 > 0:21:40Won't be long now.
0:21:42 > 0:21:44Now they can get ready for race day.
0:21:52 > 0:21:55All ready for racing. Just get the saddle on later.
0:21:58 > 0:22:00Are you ready? Yeah.
0:22:00 > 0:22:03And the Roy's Legacy fan club have turned out in force.
0:22:03 > 0:22:05We're here to enjoy watching
0:22:05 > 0:22:09our favourite horse run, called Roy's Legacy.
0:22:09 > 0:22:11He's just such a gorgeous little fellow.
0:22:11 > 0:22:14He's got a lovely white blaze down his face.
0:22:14 > 0:22:16It's the way he tries his heart out.
0:22:16 > 0:22:20He always absolutely gives it his all and that's just so good to see.
0:22:20 > 0:22:24We hope he's going to win today because we had a little bet on him
0:22:24 > 0:22:25earlier on in the day.
0:22:25 > 0:22:28We've noticed that the odds have got quite a bit shorter,
0:22:28 > 0:22:33so we're hopeful that other people are going to enjoy a win, as we are.
0:22:35 > 0:22:38All eyes are on Roy's Legacy in the five o'clock.
0:22:40 > 0:22:42I think we'll be in the first three.
0:22:42 > 0:22:46I'm not saying we'll win but we'll be in the winners enclosure.
0:22:46 > 0:22:48Things have to go right in the race.
0:22:48 > 0:22:51As long as there are no mishaps, I think we'll be in the first three.
0:22:51 > 0:22:54ANNOUNCEMENTS OVER PA
0:22:57 > 0:22:59Finally, the big moment has arrived.
0:23:02 > 0:23:05Good gosh! Go on. Get across. Take him over. Take him over.
0:23:05 > 0:23:08Good lad. That'll do.
0:23:08 > 0:23:10It's as far as you'll get over.
0:23:10 > 0:23:12You're going plenty fast enough.
0:23:12 > 0:23:14It's a tight race...
0:23:19 > 0:23:23..but Roy's Legacy can only manage fifth place.
0:23:23 > 0:23:24But despite their defeat,
0:23:24 > 0:23:28Shaun and Ciaran are remaining upbeat about his performance.
0:23:29 > 0:23:32There wasn't much in it - third, fourth, fifth....
0:23:32 > 0:23:33Second, third, fourth, fifth...
0:23:33 > 0:23:36Yeah. Hopefully get one on the board next time.
0:23:36 > 0:23:38He's running well. He did run well.
0:23:38 > 0:23:40He ran his heart out, really.
0:23:40 > 0:23:43He just got swamped right at the end. But we're pleased with him.
0:23:43 > 0:23:46Very pleased with him. Winner next time.
0:23:48 > 0:23:50I'm really pleased with him. He's run his little heart out.
0:23:50 > 0:23:52He's finished fifth in the end
0:23:52 > 0:23:53but he wasn't disgraced, that's for sure.
0:23:53 > 0:23:56He's come back. He's safe. He's well.
0:23:56 > 0:23:59Looks a million dollars. We live to fight another day.
0:24:00 > 0:24:03For Shaun, it's just another day at the races.
0:24:03 > 0:24:04Come on then, Tom. Good boy.
0:24:04 > 0:24:06WHISTLES
0:24:06 > 0:24:10Six o'clock we'll be away and back home for nine o'clock, hopefully,
0:24:10 > 0:24:14at least. And tucking into his tea when he gets back.
0:24:14 > 0:24:18Out in the field in the morning, happy as Larry, hopefully.
0:24:18 > 0:24:21So, Roy's Legacy can look forward to a well-earned meal
0:24:21 > 0:24:24and Shaun's hoping their long journey home back down the A1
0:24:24 > 0:24:27doesn't present any more hurdles.
0:24:34 > 0:24:36Just a few miles up the road,
0:24:36 > 0:24:40PC Alan Keenleyside's routine stop of a motorist for having no MOT
0:24:40 > 0:24:42has turned into something more serious.
0:24:44 > 0:24:47Drugs have been found in the cab of the van and the motorist
0:24:47 > 0:24:51is suspected of driving while under the influence of cannabis.
0:24:52 > 0:24:56That was found in the rubbish bag with the bottles and things.
0:24:56 > 0:24:57OK. What's the craic with that?
0:24:59 > 0:25:01I'll tell you now. I've not been smoking today, right.
0:25:01 > 0:25:03- Right, OK.- That's mine, OK.
0:25:03 > 0:25:05Right. No result.
0:25:05 > 0:25:07Not exactly the crime of the century, having that.
0:25:07 > 0:25:10All right. Certainly a personal amount. We'll deal with that. OK.
0:25:12 > 0:25:16Meanwhile, the result of a roadside drugs test which Alan carried out
0:25:16 > 0:25:17eight minutes ago...
0:25:17 > 0:25:19We've waited the requisite amount of time.
0:25:19 > 0:25:21..has proved positive.
0:25:23 > 0:25:25So, you've got two lines for cannabis.
0:25:25 > 0:25:29So, the preliminary drug test has tested positive for a specified drug
0:25:29 > 0:25:33in your system. Therefore, I am arresting you
0:25:33 > 0:25:36and taking you to Forth Banks police station.
0:25:36 > 0:25:39Is there anything you want to say to that?
0:25:42 > 0:25:45The new drug driving laws cover eight illegal substances,
0:25:45 > 0:25:47including cannabis and cocaine.
0:25:47 > 0:25:50- PHONE RINGS - There it is.
0:25:50 > 0:25:52Do you want to speak to your dad?
0:25:52 > 0:25:55But 11 prescription drugs, like morphine,
0:25:55 > 0:25:57are also on the danger list.
0:25:57 > 0:26:00A good little stop. Just from having no MOT,
0:26:00 > 0:26:01we've recovered some drugs.
0:26:01 > 0:26:04He's provided a specimen and there's one on the way to custody.
0:26:04 > 0:26:06So, we're making the road safer all the time.
0:26:06 > 0:26:09Just going to cuff you for transportation. All right?
0:26:09 > 0:26:12Alan's roadside test has shown traces of banned drugs
0:26:12 > 0:26:14in the van driver's body.
0:26:14 > 0:26:17A full blood test will now be needed to establish just how much cannabis
0:26:17 > 0:26:19is in his system.
0:26:19 > 0:26:20All right?
0:26:26 > 0:26:28It's like drink-driving now.
0:26:28 > 0:26:30Your blood will be sent away to the labs.
0:26:30 > 0:26:35It gets examined and then we get a figure back as to how much cannabis
0:26:35 > 0:26:38is in your blood and whether that's over the prescribed limit or not.
0:26:38 > 0:26:41If it is, you'll go to court for that.
0:26:41 > 0:26:43Cannabis stays in your system a lot longer than drink.
0:26:43 > 0:26:46Do you know what I mean? Depending how much you've had,
0:26:46 > 0:26:48it can stay in for days or weeks.
0:26:49 > 0:26:51Just take a seat down there.
0:26:52 > 0:26:56At the station, a sample of blood is taken for analysis
0:26:56 > 0:26:59and the motorist's picture and fingerprints are recorded
0:26:59 > 0:27:02while Alan begins to prepare his case.
0:27:04 > 0:27:06I'm just packaging up the blood now.
0:27:06 > 0:27:10I've actually filled in a bit of a circumstance surrounding the stop
0:27:10 > 0:27:13and what's happened today. That just assists the lab.
0:27:13 > 0:27:15I'll seal it up now, I'll log the time,
0:27:15 > 0:27:19note the time on the paperwork and we'll pop that into the fridge.
0:27:19 > 0:27:22And that'll be us good to go.
0:27:22 > 0:27:25Since new laws on drug driving were passed just two years ago,
0:27:25 > 0:27:27Alan and his colleagues on the A1
0:27:27 > 0:27:30have massively stepped up the number of arrests.
0:27:31 > 0:27:34Now we've got all this technology, we're probably getting as many
0:27:34 > 0:27:36drug-driving as we are drink-driving.
0:27:36 > 0:27:40And the likely consequences of which is a disqualification,
0:27:40 > 0:27:42similar to drink-driving.
0:27:42 > 0:27:45So, if this comes back positive, over the prescribed limit,
0:27:45 > 0:27:49this gentleman will be looking for a day in court with a high likelihood
0:27:49 > 0:27:52of a disqualification for around about 12 months.
0:27:52 > 0:27:56This is going to have massive repercussions onto this driver's life.
0:27:56 > 0:27:58Potentially he's going to lose his job,
0:27:58 > 0:28:00he's going to lose the ability to drive legally,
0:28:00 > 0:28:03and, yeah. That joint last night to celebrate his birthday,
0:28:03 > 0:28:06it's all gone catastrophically wrong for this chap.
0:28:09 > 0:28:13For Alan, what started out as a routine stop has turned out to be
0:28:13 > 0:28:18anything but. No A1 patrol can be taken for granted.
0:28:18 > 0:28:22I think it's really important to emphasise that when we,
0:28:22 > 0:28:24as police officers, certainly working the A1,
0:28:24 > 0:28:28you never know what you're going to get. You just don't know.
0:28:28 > 0:28:32You've got to go in with your guard up, high-risk.
0:28:32 > 0:28:34You've got cars moving around you on the A1.
0:28:34 > 0:28:37On that occasion, open the door, two lads in the van.
0:28:38 > 0:28:40Just that scent of cannabis.
0:28:40 > 0:28:42You just get that little whiff.
0:28:42 > 0:28:43The alarm bells go.
0:28:43 > 0:28:47A good result. Just goes to show somebody who doesn't appear to be
0:28:47 > 0:28:49really doing anything wrong
0:28:49 > 0:28:52is actually a real danger on the roads this morning.
0:28:52 > 0:28:54We've been able to minimise that risk.
0:28:54 > 0:28:56So really, really happy with that.
0:29:01 > 0:29:05Congestion on Britain's road network costs the economy an estimated
0:29:05 > 0:29:07£13 billion a year.
0:29:07 > 0:29:12While many motorists on the A1 point the finger at roadworks,
0:29:12 > 0:29:15they actually account for only about 10% of annual delays.
0:29:17 > 0:29:20On patrol in Northumberland is PC Darren Lant,
0:29:20 > 0:29:23who is cracking down on motorists speeding through roadworks.
0:29:25 > 0:29:27This little red Polo in front of me,
0:29:27 > 0:29:32he's just decided to ignore the temporary speed limit.
0:29:32 > 0:29:33As we come out of Morpeth there,
0:29:33 > 0:29:36it's a temporary speed limit of 40mph for a reason.
0:29:36 > 0:29:39This guy's just come hurtling through there, mid-50s,
0:29:39 > 0:29:41completely ignoring it.
0:29:41 > 0:29:43We'll have a stop with him, we'll have a quick chat.
0:29:43 > 0:29:45I think he knows it's coming.
0:29:46 > 0:29:50It's just after nine o'clock and rush hour should be over but it
0:29:50 > 0:29:53appears this motorist's running a little late.
0:29:55 > 0:29:58Hello, sir. How are you doing? All right? In a hurry?
0:30:00 > 0:30:02You need to get to work. All right.
0:30:02 > 0:30:03Come and have a chat with me
0:30:03 > 0:30:05and I'll explain to you why I've stopped you.
0:30:05 > 0:30:08Take the seat in the back on that side for me, please.
0:30:08 > 0:30:11All right. Any ideas why I've stopped you?
0:30:13 > 0:30:14Yeah.
0:30:14 > 0:30:18But while the driver understands his speeding is why Darren's pulled
0:30:18 > 0:30:21him over, he's still not convinced he's in the wrong.
0:30:21 > 0:30:23It's what...? It's so pointless, is it?
0:30:29 > 0:30:31I'm sure the people that are working in and around the area,
0:30:31 > 0:30:34although they might not have been on the road at that particular time,
0:30:34 > 0:30:37would disagree that it's not particularly pointless.
0:30:37 > 0:30:40Do you want to watch the video of you going through or are you quite
0:30:40 > 0:30:42- happy you were speeding? - No, I know I was speeding.
0:30:42 > 0:30:45- Do you know what speed you were doing?- 55.- Spot on.
0:30:45 > 0:30:47All right.
0:30:47 > 0:30:48It's not the first time Liam's
0:30:48 > 0:30:51speeding has put him on the wrong side of the law.
0:30:51 > 0:30:54You got a full licence, Liam, have you?
0:30:54 > 0:30:55Any points or anything on it?
0:30:55 > 0:30:57Yeah, three, I think.
0:30:57 > 0:30:58What was that for? Speeding?
0:30:58 > 0:31:02I had just passed, so I thought the average speed cameras...
0:31:02 > 0:31:05I thought it was the average at each camera.
0:31:05 > 0:31:07- I didn't realise... - The average at each camera.
0:31:09 > 0:31:12That's a new one. Is that a pointless speed limit as well?
0:31:12 > 0:31:14No. You know what I mean.
0:31:14 > 0:31:16The speed limits are there for a reason.
0:31:16 > 0:31:18They're not pointless.
0:31:18 > 0:31:21The way I propose to deal with it, Liam,
0:31:21 > 0:31:23is to arrange for you to go on a speed awareness course.
0:31:23 > 0:31:25All right? No points, no fine.
0:31:25 > 0:31:28But, obviously, you've got to pay to go on the course. All right?
0:31:28 > 0:31:32Speed awareness courses were introduced in the late 1980s
0:31:32 > 0:31:37in the hope that educating offenders like Liam would lead to long-term
0:31:37 > 0:31:39changes in their behaviour,
0:31:39 > 0:31:42rather than just punishing them with points and fines.
0:31:44 > 0:31:46I didn't see the police to start with.
0:31:46 > 0:31:48I thought, I'd better slow down here.
0:31:48 > 0:31:52Then I saw him weaving a bit, trying to get my attention.
0:31:52 > 0:31:53Then the lights came on.
0:31:53 > 0:31:56I thought, "God, not again."
0:31:56 > 0:31:58But, for Liam, who now faces
0:31:58 > 0:32:01four hours of intensive road safety lessons,
0:32:01 > 0:32:04slowing down for roadworks still seems to be a hard sell.
0:32:06 > 0:32:09When there's no workers in the road and the cones are on the side of
0:32:09 > 0:32:12the road and stuff, I don't know why the speed limit's 40.
0:32:12 > 0:32:1540, I think, is a bit low for
0:32:15 > 0:32:18no workers on the road, especially.
0:32:23 > 0:32:25He had a very strange and quite worrying
0:32:25 > 0:32:28point of view that the speed limit was pointless.
0:32:28 > 0:32:30It's a dangerous point of view to have.
0:32:30 > 0:32:32They're there for a reason.
0:32:32 > 0:32:35They're there for safety. Not only for the public using the roads,
0:32:35 > 0:32:37but they're there for the contractors that are there.
0:32:37 > 0:32:40It can be frustrating, and I understand the frustration
0:32:40 > 0:32:43some drivers get when they're stuck at a reduced speed limit.
0:32:43 > 0:32:46So, yes, there might not be anybody working there but it's other stuff
0:32:46 > 0:32:48that's going around that causes the distraction.
0:32:48 > 0:32:50People get interested in what's happening over there
0:32:50 > 0:32:52or they're looking at this and they're looking at that
0:32:52 > 0:32:54and they're not concentrating on their drive.
0:32:54 > 0:32:55Everything's done for safety.
0:32:55 > 0:32:58People might not like it but it's there for their safety
0:32:58 > 0:33:00as much as the contractors' safety.
0:33:04 > 0:33:08More than 270 miles further south in Hertfordshire,
0:33:08 > 0:33:09traffic officers Richard Jones
0:33:09 > 0:33:12and Carl Hemingfield have been dispatched to a breakdown...
0:33:12 > 0:33:14Start of a busy day.
0:33:14 > 0:33:17..where the A1 meets the M25.
0:33:17 > 0:33:22We're going to the A1 slip road going on from Bignell's Corner.
0:33:22 > 0:33:25We've got a broken down vehicle.
0:33:25 > 0:33:26Police are fending off behind.
0:33:26 > 0:33:29We've been asked to assist them.
0:33:29 > 0:33:31The early morning rush hour is about to start,
0:33:31 > 0:33:34so it has the potential to cause chaos.
0:33:34 > 0:33:38Morning. Have you got an ETA for your unit?
0:33:38 > 0:33:41My colleague called up a short time ago.
0:33:41 > 0:33:43Sierra Echo 52 on the hailing channel.
0:33:43 > 0:33:46We're at Bignell's Corner. We should be with you in about two minutes.
0:33:46 > 0:33:48As they arrive at the junction, though...
0:33:48 > 0:33:50INDISTINCT RADIO CHATTER
0:33:50 > 0:33:54..Carl and Richard discover it isn't just one breakdown but two.
0:33:57 > 0:33:59That's the first, a van.
0:33:59 > 0:34:01- We got his tow hook set up.- Right.
0:34:01 > 0:34:03This is the one that was in lane three
0:34:03 > 0:34:04that's just pulled over to the side.
0:34:04 > 0:34:07OK, we're going to get somebody else.
0:34:07 > 0:34:10If you guys can't, we'll have to call immediate recovery but...
0:34:10 > 0:34:13OK. We've got another patrol. We'll ask for another patrol to come down.
0:34:13 > 0:34:16- Okey dokey.- I'll check with Carl. Is there another one coming down?
0:34:16 > 0:34:19- Cos we've got two vehicles here. - Yeah.- This is the one at lane three.
0:34:19 > 0:34:22- Do want me to ask them to keep running?- Yeah, please.
0:34:22 > 0:34:25It seems the transit van came a stop first
0:34:25 > 0:34:28and while the police were blocking off the carriageway to deal with it,
0:34:28 > 0:34:30a taxi broke down in the same spot.
0:34:33 > 0:34:35Sir, can you just stand away from there? Thank you.
0:34:35 > 0:34:37Can you come and stand behind the barrier for me
0:34:37 > 0:34:39because you're in a place of safety there?
0:34:39 > 0:34:42The taxi driver was heading for the M25
0:34:42 > 0:34:45when his clutch suddenly stopped working.
0:34:45 > 0:34:48I was going with the customers to London,
0:34:48 > 0:34:50to one of the embassies in London,
0:34:50 > 0:34:53and then from there to London Heathrow.
0:34:53 > 0:34:56So, that's not a very good day.
0:34:56 > 0:34:58No clutch, no gearbox.
0:34:58 > 0:35:01So I can't go anywhere now.
0:35:01 > 0:35:03I'm not going to earn money.
0:35:03 > 0:35:06And just wait for recovery.
0:35:06 > 0:35:08So it's not a very good day.
0:35:08 > 0:35:12The first step is for Carl and Richard to tow the taxi
0:35:12 > 0:35:13to a safer place.
0:35:13 > 0:35:15Are the keys in the car?
0:35:15 > 0:35:17Can I have the key, please?
0:35:17 > 0:35:20Thank you. I'll find the nearest safest location, if it's a lay-by...
0:35:20 > 0:35:23- I'll go with you wherever you're going.- OK.
0:35:30 > 0:35:33We can pull anything up to an HGV,
0:35:33 > 0:35:37so we pretty much can clear most things nowadays, in all fairness.
0:35:38 > 0:35:42It's not long before Carl finds a lay-by in which to pull over,
0:35:42 > 0:35:44but it's also ankle-deep in water.
0:35:45 > 0:35:47Not the best place to stop.
0:35:47 > 0:35:50No, I know. It's in the water, isn't it?
0:35:51 > 0:35:55- Deary me, it's flooded. - Can you go down behind that...?
0:35:55 > 0:35:58I don't think there's enough room, Richard.
0:35:58 > 0:36:02My new polished shoes now look not so polished.
0:36:02 > 0:36:04- Thanks, Carl.- That's all right!
0:36:06 > 0:36:08Dave, the passenger in the taxi,
0:36:08 > 0:36:11has an appointment at the South African embassy,
0:36:11 > 0:36:15so he's desperate to get to London as quickly as possible.
0:36:15 > 0:36:18I was just going to the African embassy to submit a visa application
0:36:18 > 0:36:21and then flying back to Johannesburg.
0:36:21 > 0:36:25I only flew back from Johannesburg yesterday just purely for this,
0:36:25 > 0:36:28so it's not a very good day.
0:36:28 > 0:36:32Carl and Richard do their best to help find them taxis
0:36:32 > 0:36:35but, at this time of the morning, it's proving difficult.
0:36:35 > 0:36:40This gentleman has broken down between South Mimms and Borehamwood.
0:36:40 > 0:36:43You haven't got any cars at the moment?
0:36:43 > 0:36:46OK. I'll get my gentleman to try and find somebody else.
0:36:46 > 0:36:49Cheers, bye. He hasn't got any cars.
0:36:49 > 0:36:53Eventually, duty calls, and Richard and Carl need to head off.
0:36:53 > 0:36:55I suggest you stay out of the vehicle
0:36:55 > 0:36:57rather than in it round here at the moment.
0:36:57 > 0:37:00The further away from the motorway the better.
0:37:00 > 0:37:02OK then, sir. Good luck.
0:37:02 > 0:37:05I hope you get your visa sorted out.
0:37:10 > 0:37:14The danger on that closure was that it was quite near to the entry slip.
0:37:14 > 0:37:19Cars were coming quite fast down the slip road to join the motorway.
0:37:19 > 0:37:22It wasn't giving them much time to move across.
0:37:22 > 0:37:23It was a busy scene.
0:37:23 > 0:37:27I mean, to get two broken-down vehicles
0:37:27 > 0:37:30in one closure was a tad unusual.
0:37:30 > 0:37:34But that car was so close to the marginal strip, it was...
0:37:35 > 0:37:39I could feel the cars going past as we were being towed.
0:37:39 > 0:37:42The A1 is getting back to normal now but
0:37:42 > 0:37:45as traffic often builds on one of its busiest stretches,
0:37:45 > 0:37:49it won't be long before Richard and Carl are needed again.
0:37:52 > 0:37:54Nearly 290 miles north in Northumberland,
0:37:54 > 0:37:57police are focusing on other problem vehicles.
0:38:02 > 0:38:06More than 20,000 numberplates are stolen every year and they're often
0:38:06 > 0:38:08used to mask a whole host of crimes.
0:38:10 > 0:38:14A1 patrol officer PC Darren Lant thinks this vehicle isn't being used
0:38:14 > 0:38:19for any illegal intent but this DIY disaster's really caught his eye.
0:38:21 > 0:38:24It's a canny effort of getting the registration number on the van.
0:38:25 > 0:38:28It is clearly visible, I'll give them that,
0:38:28 > 0:38:31but it doesn't really conform to the regulations
0:38:31 > 0:38:33and the standard that we require.
0:38:36 > 0:38:39The van's indistinct lettering mean Darren resorts to guesswork
0:38:39 > 0:38:41to try and trace it.
0:38:41 > 0:38:43Vehicle check, please.
0:38:43 > 0:38:44A1, south.
0:38:44 > 0:38:48I'm going to try Yankee 685 Yankee,
0:38:48 > 0:38:51could be a Delta or an Oscar, Charlie.
0:38:51 > 0:38:53It's a white Transit.
0:38:54 > 0:38:59The van's registered to an owner 200 miles away and Darren decides
0:38:59 > 0:39:01he needs to take a closer look.
0:39:01 > 0:39:03I think I'll have a chat with the guy.
0:39:03 > 0:39:06A couple of reasons. Just want to make sure that bike is secure.
0:39:06 > 0:39:07It looks secure enough.
0:39:07 > 0:39:10I need to have a chat with him about his number plate.
0:39:10 > 0:39:13Yes, he's wrote it on the van there with what looks like
0:39:13 > 0:39:16electrician's tape or something, which, at least it's on there,
0:39:16 > 0:39:18but it's not the right way it should be done.
0:39:18 > 0:39:19As soon as it's safe to do so,
0:39:19 > 0:39:22we'll give this guy a stop and we'll have a quick chat with him.
0:39:27 > 0:39:30Hello there. How are you doing? Is this your van, is it?
0:39:30 > 0:39:33The reason why I've stopped you, guys, is just
0:39:33 > 0:39:36your rather slap-hazard attempt at your number plate on the back there.
0:39:36 > 0:39:40- Yeah.- You should maybe have just lifted the original one up.
0:39:40 > 0:39:43OK. Just a couple of checks and you'll be on your way as long as
0:39:43 > 0:39:45everything's all right. OK?
0:39:47 > 0:39:50A closer inspection of the bike's fixings
0:39:50 > 0:39:53reveals that's safe and in good order.
0:39:53 > 0:39:55- Do you want to come and have a chat with us for two seconds?- Yeah.
0:39:55 > 0:39:58But Darren's still not happy with the fact it's being carried
0:39:58 > 0:40:02in a way which means the legitimate number plate is totally obscured.
0:40:06 > 0:40:09If you've got ways of taking it off and putting it up...
0:40:10 > 0:40:12Yeah.
0:40:12 > 0:40:13If you don't mind.
0:40:13 > 0:40:16I appreciate your efforts are somewhat creative.
0:40:19 > 0:40:21Where is it you're going to?
0:40:22 > 0:40:24Right.
0:40:24 > 0:40:26Driver Josh and his friend are on an A1 road trip
0:40:26 > 0:40:29that's taking them the length of Britain.
0:40:29 > 0:40:32After visiting the northern tip of Scotland, they're slowly bringing
0:40:32 > 0:40:36the bike back down the A1 to their homes on the south coast.
0:40:36 > 0:40:38But without a proper number plate,
0:40:38 > 0:40:41they face the possibility of being stranded halfway.
0:40:41 > 0:40:43If you can't shift that number plate,
0:40:43 > 0:40:45put it up and make sure it sticks on.
0:40:45 > 0:40:47I don't want you to put it on and then get two,
0:40:47 > 0:40:50three miles down the road for it to fall off.
0:40:50 > 0:40:53In fact, leave it on. When you get to York,
0:40:53 > 0:40:55- get it secured there properly.- Yeah.
0:40:55 > 0:40:56At least then you know you're in York
0:40:56 > 0:40:58and you're got a chance to glue it on or whatever.
0:40:58 > 0:41:00At least there's something on there now.
0:41:00 > 0:41:04For Josh, Darren's intervention has been another learning curve on
0:41:04 > 0:41:06a very eventful and haphazard trip.
0:41:06 > 0:41:10We have just been to John O'Groats.
0:41:10 > 0:41:13There's not a lot there but if you get the chance, go and see it.
0:41:13 > 0:41:17We're going to York now, then down to Land's End and...
0:41:17 > 0:41:19Where else are we going? Kent. So that'll be fun.
0:41:19 > 0:41:22Kent. Everyone loves Kent.
0:41:22 > 0:41:25I've been to other places in the world so it's time to
0:41:25 > 0:41:30know this country as well a little bit better.
0:41:30 > 0:41:33With the pair promising to get the plate fixed when they're safety off
0:41:33 > 0:41:37the A1, Darren's happy a warning in this case
0:41:37 > 0:41:39is appropriate for the offence.
0:41:40 > 0:41:42Josh was all right.
0:41:42 > 0:41:44He was a decent enough lad.
0:41:44 > 0:41:46Him and his pal are going up travelling the country,
0:41:46 > 0:41:48camping and stuff, which is great.
0:41:48 > 0:41:50They've been given some advice about the number plate.
0:41:50 > 0:41:52The sticky tape number plate's not really good enough.
0:41:52 > 0:41:54If that vehicle was stolen,
0:41:54 > 0:41:56we can't read them with the technology we've got,
0:41:56 > 0:41:59so it would be hard to try and trace that vehicle.
0:41:59 > 0:42:01So, when they get secured tonight at the next campsite,
0:42:01 > 0:42:04they'll get it secure on then. They're happy and so am I,
0:42:04 > 0:42:06so we'll go and see what we can find now.
0:42:13 > 0:42:16Blood tests on the motorist found to be driving while under the influence
0:42:16 > 0:42:21of cannabis came back positive and he's still awaiting trial.
0:42:22 > 0:42:24And in his next eight races,
0:42:24 > 0:42:29Roy's Legacy went on to win two and claim a place in four others.
0:42:31 > 0:42:32And van driver Josh managed to fix
0:42:32 > 0:42:35his numberplate and finish his marathon journey
0:42:35 > 0:42:37at Land's End after all.