0:00:02 > 0:00:03The A1 -
0:00:03 > 0:00:04Britain'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 > 0:00:16Connecting two nations and passing through 18 counties.
0:00:16 > 0:00:18It's an unrivalled highway
0:00:18 > 0:00:22used by hundreds of thousands of vehicles every day.
0:00:22 > 0:00:26We're going southbound down the A1 on the northbound carriageway.
0:00:27 > 0:00:29But not all journeys go to plan.
0:00:32 > 0:00:34I thought, am I going to lose my life?
0:00:34 > 0:00:36Cars are coming close.
0:00:36 > 0:00:38It is the dangerous place to be.
0:00:38 > 0:00:40Lives can hang in the balance.
0:00:40 > 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 > 0:01:00..response teams...
0:01:00 > 0:01:03We don't know whether we've got the road closed, we don't know what's happening.
0:01:03 > 0:01:04..and traffic officers.
0:01:06 > 0:01:07Keep going.
0:01:08 > 0:01:11Keeping Britain's most iconic road...
0:01:11 > 0:01:13- Get out...- ..on the move.
0:01:14 > 0:01:17Substantially damaged flatbed truck in lane two.
0:01:18 > 0:01:21The A1, the monster that it is, it'll start to return to normal.
0:01:25 > 0:01:26Coming up -
0:01:26 > 0:01:28a pile-up on the carriageway...
0:01:28 > 0:01:32Lanes one and two are blocked, so effectively the A1 North is shut.
0:01:32 > 0:01:33..puts lives at risk.
0:01:33 > 0:01:36Substantially damaged flatbed truck in lane two.
0:01:36 > 0:01:37Highway overload...
0:01:37 > 0:01:41This is very dangerous. That could burst at any time.
0:01:41 > 0:01:44..as officers clamp down on illegal vehicles.
0:01:44 > 0:01:48As it stands, we cannot permit this vehicle to proceed on its journey.
0:01:48 > 0:01:52And fires on the Tyne push police officers to the limit.
0:01:52 > 0:01:54There's a lot of explosives within a car.
0:01:54 > 0:01:56Really, really dangerous.
0:01:59 > 0:02:03With hundreds of thousands of vehicles using the A1 every day,
0:02:03 > 0:02:07keeping the only continuous road between Edinburgh and London moving
0:02:07 > 0:02:10is a 24-hour operation.
0:02:10 > 0:02:12And over in Sprotbrough, near Doncaster,
0:02:12 > 0:02:14an early shift is just about to start.
0:02:17 > 0:02:22It's just before 7am and traffic officers Paul Day and Rob Larkin
0:02:22 > 0:02:24are heading out onto the A1.
0:02:24 > 0:02:26- RADIO BEEPS - Echo 13...
0:02:26 > 0:02:29Within minutes, there's a report of a crash near Pontefract,
0:02:29 > 0:02:3211 miles north of their base.
0:02:32 > 0:02:34Multiple vehicle RTC.
0:02:34 > 0:02:35Possible injuries.
0:02:35 > 0:02:38Vehicles are still in situ across the road.
0:02:39 > 0:02:41Lanes one and two are blocked.
0:02:41 > 0:02:44Yeah, lanes one and two are blocked, so effectively the A1 North is shut.
0:02:46 > 0:02:50Priority at first attendance is, we make the scene safe,
0:02:50 > 0:02:53we then check for people's injuries,
0:02:53 > 0:02:56organise ambulances, etc, if needed
0:02:56 > 0:02:59and then we deal with the trapped traffic
0:02:59 > 0:03:03and anything else that's going on around us.
0:03:03 > 0:03:06But the priority is to make the scene safe
0:03:06 > 0:03:09and then open at least one lane as quickly as possible.
0:03:09 > 0:03:11The crash involves a truck,
0:03:11 > 0:03:14so there's a chance the victims could be seriously injured.
0:03:14 > 0:03:17And with traffic still speeding past,
0:03:17 > 0:03:20all the other motorists on the A1 are also in danger.
0:03:20 > 0:03:22Looking at this traffic,
0:03:22 > 0:03:24and just not seeing us behind trying to make us way.
0:03:24 > 0:03:26Every second that passes,
0:03:26 > 0:03:27the jam is getting longer
0:03:27 > 0:03:30and this increases the risk of another pile-up.
0:03:30 > 0:03:34- Right, so we just stop everybody here, get us a gap?- Yeah.
0:03:34 > 0:03:35Right.
0:03:38 > 0:03:4013, we've just stopped the traffic.
0:03:41 > 0:03:44The traffic officers are the first on the scene.
0:03:44 > 0:03:47They've no idea how badly injured the drivers are.
0:03:49 > 0:03:5313, substantially damaged flatbed truck in lane two.
0:03:54 > 0:03:57Bear with us, we'll see if we can move that,
0:03:57 > 0:04:01once we find out if there's injuries, over. Is anybody injured?
0:04:01 > 0:04:03I'm fine, I wasn't involved, but these guys...
0:04:03 > 0:04:04Are you all right?
0:04:04 > 0:04:07I think it's just from the air bag, it's nothing serious.
0:04:07 > 0:04:08- Need an ambulance?- No.
0:04:08 > 0:04:10Right, is that your truck?
0:04:10 > 0:04:12- Yeah.- Will it drive at all?
0:04:14 > 0:04:16I'll come back to you, bear with.
0:04:16 > 0:04:19These drivers have had an incredibly lucky escape.
0:04:21 > 0:04:23- Anybody in this?- Yeah.
0:04:23 > 0:04:25Yours? Any injuries?
0:04:25 > 0:04:28Just my back is a little bit...
0:04:28 > 0:04:30- Do you need an ambulance?- No.
0:04:30 > 0:04:32The next priority is to clear the scene
0:04:32 > 0:04:34and to get the A1 moving again.
0:04:34 > 0:04:38What we've got at the minute, is we've got traffic stopped
0:04:38 > 0:04:40and you saw what it did in nine minutes.
0:04:40 > 0:04:42Because we've got it fully stopped now,
0:04:42 > 0:04:44it's not even making any progress at all.
0:04:44 > 0:04:49So the importance is, get it safe, get it open as quickly as possible,
0:04:49 > 0:04:50allow people past...
0:04:51 > 0:04:52..which will not take long now.
0:04:53 > 0:04:56But what Paul and Rob don't realise yet,
0:04:56 > 0:05:00is that the stricken vehicle in lane two is a hybrid electric car,
0:05:00 > 0:05:02which could still be live.
0:05:02 > 0:05:05This incident is about to get a lot more challenging.
0:05:11 > 0:05:15One of the most southerly sections of the A1 is where it intersects
0:05:15 > 0:05:17the M25 in Hertfordshire.
0:05:22 > 0:05:26Tens of thousands of vehicles travel on this stretch every single day.
0:05:28 > 0:05:30But some simply aren't fit to be on the road.
0:05:32 > 0:05:36In Hatfield, Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency officer
0:05:36 > 0:05:39John Windebank is on patrol and on the lookout
0:05:39 > 0:05:44for unroadworthy vehicles causing danger to other road users.
0:05:44 > 0:05:47Could be a vehicle that looks like it's heavy or in poor condition.
0:05:51 > 0:05:55And it's not long before he spots a truck that could pose a serious risk
0:05:55 > 0:05:57to other motorists.
0:05:57 > 0:06:01It looks like a 3.5 tonne scaffold vehicle in lane two.
0:06:01 > 0:06:04It could well be overweight, it all depends.
0:06:12 > 0:06:15Overloading of vehicles is quite a common occurrence with us,
0:06:15 > 0:06:19it's probably something that we come across every day.
0:06:19 > 0:06:22If you are in that vehicle and you had to brake suddenly,
0:06:22 > 0:06:26you are not going to stop so you will just plough into the person
0:06:26 > 0:06:29in front of you. I mean, it's possible this vehicle may be OK,
0:06:29 > 0:06:32but looking at it, it may well not be.
0:06:34 > 0:06:37It's John's job to escort the vehicle into a weighbridge
0:06:37 > 0:06:40at the side of the A1, where a team of his colleagues are waiting
0:06:40 > 0:06:44- to take a closer look. - What I need you to do first,
0:06:44 > 0:06:48can you just reverse up and get the back wheels on the plate for us,
0:06:48 > 0:06:51- please?- Dangerously overloading a vehicle is a serious offence.
0:06:51 > 0:06:55Last year, more than 70 people faced prosecution for this crime.
0:06:55 > 0:06:58Right, if you stay there while I collect the weights...
0:06:58 > 0:07:01While traffic examiner John Blide weighs the vehicle...
0:07:03 > 0:07:08..his colleague Prem Kumar has concerns about the state of the truck.
0:07:08 > 0:07:10What happened to the windscreen?
0:07:10 > 0:07:13It was my first day, that was.
0:07:13 > 0:07:16Put the radio on the dashboard and it did a little kick.
0:07:16 > 0:07:18How long has it been like that?
0:07:18 > 0:07:19- A week.- A week?
0:07:21 > 0:07:24Got a bit of trim hanging off here as well.
0:07:25 > 0:07:28OK. Rear lamp cluster broken.
0:07:28 > 0:07:31- Do you know when it was last serviced?- No.
0:07:31 > 0:07:36And Prem spots another reason why this vehicle is dangerously unroadworthy.
0:07:36 > 0:07:38Found a defective tyre,
0:07:38 > 0:07:41so defective that the side wall on the tyre has become damaged and it's
0:07:41 > 0:07:43caused a bulge to appear.
0:07:43 > 0:07:45That could burst at any time.
0:07:46 > 0:07:48This is very dangerous.
0:07:48 > 0:07:49As it stands,
0:07:49 > 0:07:52we cannot permit this vehicle to proceed on its journey
0:07:52 > 0:07:54in this condition, because there is an imminent danger
0:07:54 > 0:07:56of this exploding. All right?
0:07:56 > 0:08:00And that's not all, John has the results of the weigh-in.
0:08:00 > 0:08:06OK, guys, you are a 3,500 kilo truck coming in at 5,600 kilos.
0:08:06 > 0:08:08You are seriously overweight.
0:08:09 > 0:08:11Just over two tonnes overweight.
0:08:11 > 0:08:14It means the driver, or his boss, could be heading to court.
0:08:14 > 0:08:17I am going to say to you, you do not have to say anything.
0:08:17 > 0:08:20It may harm your defence if you fail to mention when questioned,
0:08:20 > 0:08:24something you later rely on in court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence.
0:08:24 > 0:08:27The vehicle is unfit to go back on the road and will be immobilised.
0:08:29 > 0:08:34It concerns me that people don't know the danger they put themselves
0:08:34 > 0:08:37into, or other road users.
0:08:37 > 0:08:39If we weren't doing these checks,
0:08:39 > 0:08:42these vehicles would just be running around on the public highway.
0:08:42 > 0:08:45The last thing we want is people killed.
0:08:45 > 0:08:47And with many more vehicles still to check,
0:08:47 > 0:08:50the team is in for a very busy shift.
0:08:53 > 0:08:56200 miles north of Hertfordshire,
0:08:56 > 0:08:58the A1 snakes through the hills of Yorkshire.
0:08:59 > 0:09:01From here, motorists can veer off
0:09:01 > 0:09:04and head into the stunning North York Moors.
0:09:06 > 0:09:11And now, in the Victorian seaside resort of Saltburn-by-the-Sea...
0:09:11 > 0:09:12Amazing. Amazing.
0:09:12 > 0:09:17..Chris and Bev Pope are waiting for their new dream home
0:09:17 > 0:09:18to be delivered up the A1.
0:09:18 > 0:09:21We weren't looking to be here at all, were we?
0:09:21 > 0:09:23- No.- It just happened.
0:09:23 > 0:09:24We don't live far away.
0:09:24 > 0:09:27It's a lovely area.
0:09:27 > 0:09:29- We wanted the lifestyle change as well, didn't we?- Yeah.
0:09:29 > 0:09:31We fancied a bungalow.
0:09:31 > 0:09:34As soon as we walked onto the place and had a look round the showroom,
0:09:34 > 0:09:37we decided that was very much what we wanted
0:09:37 > 0:09:38and the lifestyle we wanted.
0:09:38 > 0:09:42We've never looked back, so here we are, yeah.
0:09:42 > 0:09:45Their new home isn't being built on site,
0:09:45 > 0:09:48it's being assembled hundreds of miles away in Northamptonshire.
0:09:48 > 0:09:51They bolt it together but then the weight just keeps it together.
0:09:51 > 0:09:54Right. Is that what happens?
0:09:54 > 0:09:55- Yeah.- It's very exciting.
0:09:55 > 0:09:57It is, it's really exciting.
0:09:57 > 0:10:00You've got instant house.
0:10:00 > 0:10:03I'm looking forward to everything being brand-new.
0:10:03 > 0:10:07From seeing the brochures and the home itself, then just been waiting,
0:10:07 > 0:10:09and waiting and waiting, which I'm not good at.
0:10:11 > 0:10:14That is pretty incredible, isn't it?
0:10:14 > 0:10:18Though just how do you move a house up one of Britain's busiest highways?
0:10:22 > 0:10:24At his base in Northamptonshire...
0:10:24 > 0:10:25Careful.
0:10:27 > 0:10:28Push back slowly.
0:10:28 > 0:10:32..it's the job of Jason Wainwright to oversee the safe delivery
0:10:32 > 0:10:34of Chris and Bev's dream home.
0:10:38 > 0:10:41We always like to have the lorries loaded up the evening before.
0:10:41 > 0:10:43So first thing in the morning we can get onto the road to miss the
0:10:43 > 0:10:46rush-hour traffic and make our journey nice and easy.
0:10:48 > 0:10:53They are prepping their 66-foot long low loader for a night-time mission
0:10:53 > 0:10:55that will take them nearly 200 miles north.
0:10:56 > 0:10:59The trailers we carry the mobile homes on are made specifically
0:10:59 > 0:11:00for carrying mobile homes.
0:11:01 > 0:11:05They've got specially adapted centre wells, that lower down to bring the
0:11:05 > 0:11:06heights of these roofs down
0:11:06 > 0:11:08so we don't hit any bridges on the motorways.
0:11:10 > 0:11:13And it stretches out to a total of 55 foot in length,
0:11:13 > 0:11:17which means we can carry a 65-foot home on the back of our low loaders.
0:11:17 > 0:11:22A 65 foot by 16.5 foot is very challenging.
0:11:25 > 0:11:28The home is being transported in two halves...
0:11:29 > 0:11:33..and getting it on the road has taken weeks of meticulous planning.
0:11:33 > 0:11:37We've had to notify the police of our route and all locations
0:11:37 > 0:11:40up the A1 - Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire.
0:11:40 > 0:11:44We have specific notification sent back as to what restrictions
0:11:44 > 0:11:48have been put in place. That's pretty good, I'm happy with that.
0:11:48 > 0:11:51Whether it's daylight hours we are allowed to travel through.
0:11:51 > 0:11:52Whether there's any roadwork issues,
0:11:52 > 0:11:55or anything like that we've got to take into consideration.
0:11:55 > 0:11:57Sometimes we may have to, and we may have to tomorrow,
0:11:57 > 0:12:00call some police forces just to let them know we are entering their area
0:12:00 > 0:12:03and when we are safe and left their area.
0:12:03 > 0:12:05With the home finally on board...
0:12:07 > 0:12:08..they can hit the road.
0:12:14 > 0:12:16It's 5am the next morning.
0:12:16 > 0:12:19Whilst many A1 road users are still sleeping,
0:12:19 > 0:12:23Jason and his team are amongst the thousands of drivers using the
0:12:23 > 0:12:25carriageway at the crack of dawn.
0:12:27 > 0:12:29I can hear you, mate.
0:12:30 > 0:12:34Jason's accompanied by two specialist wide load escort vehicles
0:12:34 > 0:12:37to ensure this huge load can keep on moving.
0:12:37 > 0:12:39We've got two escort vehicles up the front.
0:12:39 > 0:12:43One pre-warning any traffic and one warning them again
0:12:43 > 0:12:45before they see our flashing lights coming down.
0:12:51 > 0:12:54The escort vehicles have pulled him over just to allow us to carry on
0:12:54 > 0:12:57our journey past him. It's not being inconsiderate,
0:12:57 > 0:13:01it's just easier for us to keep moving with a wide load.
0:13:01 > 0:13:03Apart from the odd slow-moving vehicle,
0:13:03 > 0:13:07Jason's hoping today's early start will help avoid delays.
0:13:07 > 0:13:09All clear of that one.
0:13:09 > 0:13:12As a general rule, we don't end up hitting too much traffic,
0:13:12 > 0:13:15if we can help it, because we like to get on the roads earlier.
0:13:15 > 0:13:18But when you are travelling with a home on your back,
0:13:18 > 0:13:21you can expect to travel at a snail's pace.
0:13:21 > 0:13:24And the other freight trucks on the A1 pose a real risk
0:13:24 > 0:13:26to Jason's wide load.
0:13:26 > 0:13:30Lorries overtaking us and hitting our load is our biggest fear.
0:13:30 > 0:13:32One's just overtaken us a minute ago.
0:13:32 > 0:13:35I don't generally flash people in to pull back in front of us once they
0:13:35 > 0:13:38have overtaken us because they tend to pull in very quickly.
0:13:38 > 0:13:41All that then does for us guys is restrict our vision.
0:13:41 > 0:13:43Here, we've got some very...
0:13:43 > 0:13:45Some lorries very close.
0:13:45 > 0:13:47Had he pulled in front of us quickly,
0:13:47 > 0:13:50we would never have been able to see that.
0:13:50 > 0:13:54Despite having an escort, it's vital Jason keeps his wits about him.
0:13:54 > 0:13:58As he heads through Lincolnshire, there's still a long road ahead.
0:14:00 > 0:14:03The A1 passes through 15 different police forces,
0:14:03 > 0:14:06more than any other road in the UK.
0:14:06 > 0:14:08Police officers patrol night and day
0:14:08 > 0:14:11to keep traffic moving and motorists safe.
0:14:15 > 0:14:20In Northumbria, PC Alan Keenleyside has just received his latest call.
0:14:22 > 0:14:25Just been driving the A1(M) on the three-lane section here
0:14:25 > 0:14:27and come across a broken down vehicle on the hard shoulder.
0:14:27 > 0:14:29So we'll just go out and see what the matter is,
0:14:29 > 0:14:31if we can help the motorist in any way.
0:14:33 > 0:14:35Alan never knows what he will be faced with -
0:14:35 > 0:14:37from car fires, to criminal activity.
0:14:39 > 0:14:40Or something entirely different.
0:14:42 > 0:14:44- Hello.- Hiya, you all right?
0:14:44 > 0:14:45Hello, little one.
0:14:47 > 0:14:49Oh, right, nightmare.
0:14:49 > 0:14:52I'll leave you to it. I'll stay behind you, just for a couple
0:14:52 > 0:14:54of minutes and then when you're done,
0:14:54 > 0:14:56I will follow you off, all right? Take care.
0:14:58 > 0:15:02It's a little baby just been sick in the back of the car.
0:15:02 > 0:15:05So Mum's frantically trying to clean up.
0:15:05 > 0:15:07Clearly, nothing further needed here.
0:15:07 > 0:15:10I'm not going to give any tickets or points for babies being sick.
0:15:15 > 0:15:17But not every case is so innocent.
0:15:20 > 0:15:22'Vauxhall Corsa.
0:15:22 > 0:15:24'Male driver.'
0:15:25 > 0:15:27What we've got now is,
0:15:27 > 0:15:28we've got a pursuit.
0:15:29 > 0:15:33Alan is pursuing a driver who has failed to pull over
0:15:33 > 0:15:35when asked to stop by the police.
0:15:35 > 0:15:38He's ignored sirens and flashing blue lights.
0:15:38 > 0:15:42When a car fails to stop, you've got to think there's a reason for that.
0:15:42 > 0:15:46It could be a stolen car, it could be a disqualified driver.
0:15:46 > 0:15:50The driver could be under the influence of drink or drugs.
0:15:50 > 0:15:51So when you've got a vehicle
0:15:51 > 0:15:53that fails to stop it's inherently dangerous.
0:15:56 > 0:15:59The last report was going over this roundabout.
0:16:00 > 0:16:02By the time Alan arrives,
0:16:02 > 0:16:05the driver has been stopped by an unmarked police car.
0:16:05 > 0:16:07He is now being questioned by police.
0:16:07 > 0:16:10Just make sure everything's all right, that's all I'm going to do.
0:16:10 > 0:16:14Alan gets an update from fellow traffic officer, PC Gary Morris,
0:16:14 > 0:16:16who had also joined in the pursuit.
0:16:16 > 0:16:20- Do you think he saw him?- He was just hoping that if he just ignored him
0:16:20 > 0:16:22he'd give up and leave him alone.
0:16:22 > 0:16:27The driver in our car there is compliant.
0:16:27 > 0:16:30So we'll just hang back here, Mick's dealing with him.
0:16:30 > 0:16:34It's pointless going down there and aggravating a situation that doesn't
0:16:34 > 0:16:36need to be aggravated.
0:16:36 > 0:16:38Police discover the driver hasn't got any insurance
0:16:38 > 0:16:42and doesn't even have a driving licence.
0:16:42 > 0:16:44He's not passed a test, so he's not shown he's actually got the ability
0:16:44 > 0:16:47to drive a car safely. If he's on a provisional licence,
0:16:47 > 0:16:50he's obviously got to be displaying L plates and got to be accompanied
0:16:50 > 0:16:54by a suitably qualified driver that is keeping him right on the road.
0:16:54 > 0:16:57And obviously to do that, he's got to be insured as well.
0:16:57 > 0:17:00If he was to have an accident with anybody, somebody else,
0:17:00 > 0:17:03who's perhaps going to suffer an injury or damage
0:17:03 > 0:17:05and they've got no recourse against the driver of this car.
0:17:05 > 0:17:08By not stopping when he was asked to,
0:17:08 > 0:17:11the driver made a dangerous situation worse
0:17:11 > 0:17:14and he's now going home without his car.
0:17:14 > 0:17:16So what's going to happen now, we've confirmed this vehicle
0:17:16 > 0:17:18has no insurance. The driver of the vehicle
0:17:18 > 0:17:21is a provisional licence holder, so the driver's been interviewed
0:17:21 > 0:17:24and will be reported to court for those offences.
0:17:24 > 0:17:26This vehicle will now be seized by us and when the driver
0:17:26 > 0:17:29is able to produce the relevant documents,
0:17:29 > 0:17:31he's got a licence and insurance for this vehicle,
0:17:31 > 0:17:32the vehicle will be returned to him.
0:17:32 > 0:17:35He's got to do that within seven working days.
0:17:35 > 0:17:38If that doesn't happen, the vehicle will be disposed of
0:17:38 > 0:17:41by means of crushing, or if it's over a certain value,
0:17:41 > 0:17:43it'll go to auction and be auctioned off.
0:17:43 > 0:17:47So a good little result and another vehicle off the road this morning.
0:17:52 > 0:17:54Back on the southern edge of the A1 in Hatfield,
0:17:54 > 0:17:58the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency team is still on the hunt
0:17:58 > 0:17:59for dangerous vehicles.
0:18:02 > 0:18:04Examiners have pulled up another van
0:18:04 > 0:18:07they suspect may be carrying an excessive load.
0:18:07 > 0:18:11This can be deadly, as stopping speeds are dramatically increased
0:18:11 > 0:18:12when vehicles are overweight.
0:18:12 > 0:18:15- Good morning.- Good morning. - How are you?- Fine.
0:18:15 > 0:18:17What's the name of the company you're working for?
0:18:17 > 0:18:19- What's the name?- Sorry. - It's on the side of the van.
0:18:19 > 0:18:23Vehicle examiner Vicky Foster is keen to quiz the driver.
0:18:23 > 0:18:25OK, if you can just park for me,
0:18:25 > 0:18:28just in the lane next to this vehicle and then I'll be over to you
0:18:28 > 0:18:29in a second.
0:18:31 > 0:18:35As Vicky weighs the vehicle, driver Robert is worried about the outcome.
0:18:35 > 0:18:38I put some stuff in this morning that's going to a scrap yard, so,
0:18:38 > 0:18:42you know, a lot of it you can just take out and it will be underweight.
0:18:42 > 0:18:43But then, you know,
0:18:43 > 0:18:47the penalty is you can't do the job you're expected to do.
0:18:47 > 0:18:49But it's not good news for Robert.
0:18:50 > 0:18:563.5 tonne light goods vehicle and it's come in over 4.5 tonne.
0:18:56 > 0:19:00Unfortunately, you are 33.71% overweight and because of the amount
0:19:00 > 0:19:02of the overweight, it's not a fixed penalty,
0:19:02 > 0:19:03- it will be referred to court.- OK.
0:19:03 > 0:19:06So I will be conducting an interview with you under caution.
0:19:06 > 0:19:08- Yeah, whatever.- OK?
0:19:10 > 0:19:13Robert will now have to remove all the excess weight in his van
0:19:13 > 0:19:16before he is allowed to drive any further.
0:19:16 > 0:19:19It affects stopping distances, it affects the braking,
0:19:19 > 0:19:21and the steering and handling of the vehicle.
0:19:22 > 0:19:24It puts the general public...
0:19:25 > 0:19:26..at risk.
0:19:29 > 0:19:33Back on the A1, John Windebank is on patrol.
0:19:33 > 0:19:37Part of the officer's job is to spot-check European lorries
0:19:37 > 0:19:39to ensure their paperwork is all in order.
0:19:41 > 0:19:45But now he's spotted a vehicle with markings he doesn't recognise.
0:19:46 > 0:19:48I believe its Spanish.
0:19:48 > 0:19:50It's quite a newish vehicle.
0:19:50 > 0:19:54He decides to pull it over for Vicky and the team to have a closer look.
0:19:54 > 0:19:56I'm just indicating to come off at the junction.
0:19:56 > 0:19:59He's indicating, so he's totally compliant.
0:20:04 > 0:20:07- Hello.- Hola. - Do you speak English?- No.
0:20:07 > 0:20:10- Spanish, Spanish. - When did you come into the UK?
0:20:11 > 0:20:15- Did you come ferry or train? - Train, train.- Train.
0:20:15 > 0:20:18- Do you have your ticket?- Ticket? - Ticket.
0:20:18 > 0:20:20I lose it, OK.
0:20:20 > 0:20:22Although the truck passes as roadworthy...
0:20:24 > 0:20:26..there are other concerns.
0:20:26 > 0:20:30The maximum a goods driver can work is 56 hours in a week,
0:20:30 > 0:20:31with regular breaks...
0:20:33 > 0:20:35..so Vicky wants to check his tachograph.
0:20:36 > 0:20:39I'm just looking at the driver's hours just to ensure they've had
0:20:39 > 0:20:41enough daily rests, enough weekly rests.
0:20:42 > 0:20:44The results don't look good.
0:20:44 > 0:20:48At the moment we've got some infringements regarding weekly rest.
0:20:48 > 0:20:53Driver has had two reduced weekly rests back-to-back
0:20:53 > 0:20:55and has driven for seven days.
0:20:55 > 0:20:58Driving when tired puts everyone at risk.
0:20:58 > 0:21:01This trucker will receive an on-the-spot fine and be banned
0:21:01 > 0:21:03from driving for 45 hours.
0:21:03 > 0:21:07- Problemo. Problemo.- Problema?- Yeah.
0:21:07 > 0:21:08OK.
0:21:08 > 0:21:12Penalty for you, £300.
0:21:12 > 0:21:17Prohibition. No driving, 45 hours.
0:21:17 > 0:21:19OK? Yeah.
0:21:21 > 0:21:23It's a very good result.
0:21:23 > 0:21:25The drivers are now going to be rested
0:21:25 > 0:21:27when they start driving again.
0:21:27 > 0:21:29They won't be a risk to road safety
0:21:29 > 0:21:32and are unlikely to cause any accidents on our roads.
0:21:34 > 0:21:38It's obviously a huge danger to the general public, road safety.
0:21:38 > 0:21:40If the driver is overtired, he hasn't had sufficient rest,
0:21:40 > 0:21:44could fall asleep at the wheel and crash into oncoming traffic.
0:21:44 > 0:21:47I certainly wouldn't want to be in the car in front of him
0:21:47 > 0:21:49or any of my family either.
0:21:52 > 0:21:55More than 150 miles north,
0:21:55 > 0:21:57Jason Wainwright and his specialist wide load team
0:21:57 > 0:22:00are now three hours into their journey...
0:22:02 > 0:22:06..transporting an entire home through nine counties along the A1.
0:22:12 > 0:22:16With a maximum speed of 56 miles per hour, it's slow going.
0:22:16 > 0:22:23We're now around Ferrybridge area on the A1 near Doncaster.
0:22:23 > 0:22:24And now they've hit rush hour.
0:22:26 > 0:22:28Traffic's just a little bit slow round here,
0:22:28 > 0:22:30we're crawling through it.
0:22:30 > 0:22:31It's just putting our ETA back
0:22:31 > 0:22:34by about five to ten minutes at the moment.
0:22:34 > 0:22:37Legally, Jason's only allowed to drive for a maximum
0:22:37 > 0:22:40of four and a half hours before taking a break.
0:22:43 > 0:22:45What's the timescale left on the A1?
0:22:47 > 0:22:50When I stop, somebody can relieve me from my driving.
0:22:50 > 0:22:55I've done 3.22 at the moment so I'll probably struggle to get to site.
0:22:55 > 0:22:59So if we can have a bit of a driver swap just to make sure we are doing
0:22:59 > 0:23:01everything legal, would be nice.
0:23:01 > 0:23:04Coming up to junction 45, Wetherby.
0:23:04 > 0:23:05This will be where I come off.
0:23:07 > 0:23:09While Jason rests,
0:23:09 > 0:23:13his colleague will drive the final 70-mile stretch to their destination.
0:23:16 > 0:23:20And an hour later on the approach to Saltburn-by-the-Sea,
0:23:20 > 0:23:22they've reached a very tricky point.
0:23:22 > 0:23:26The bridge going into Saltburn is only 15ft 6" high.
0:23:28 > 0:23:31Normally the height we travel at is about 16ft 2", but on this one,
0:23:31 > 0:23:34we're specially lowering it down a bit further.
0:23:35 > 0:23:37With the air let out of the trailer's tyres
0:23:37 > 0:23:41to lower the house further, there are only inches to spare.
0:23:43 > 0:23:46It's going to be close, it always is.
0:23:46 > 0:23:47It's going to be tight.
0:23:51 > 0:23:53You're all right, fine.
0:23:53 > 0:23:56It's a close shave, but to Jason's relief,
0:23:56 > 0:23:59both halves of the house clear the bridge intact.
0:24:02 > 0:24:05And now they need to be unloaded from the main trailer
0:24:05 > 0:24:07before they enter the site.
0:24:07 > 0:24:11The rear winch at the moment is pulling the actual home back off
0:24:11 > 0:24:15- the lorry now.- But even though Jason has moved many houses,
0:24:15 > 0:24:18this part of the job never gets any easier.
0:24:18 > 0:24:20We've never had one fall off, thankfully.
0:24:20 > 0:24:22I do know of one that has fell off.
0:24:22 > 0:24:25Hold it there, boys. Just going to let the winch off.
0:24:27 > 0:24:30Jason now has another tricky task -
0:24:30 > 0:24:34manoeuvring the 32-tonne house onto site without the assistance
0:24:34 > 0:24:35of his lorry.
0:24:35 > 0:24:39We have the park entrance blocked off.
0:24:39 > 0:24:40'Blocked.'
0:24:40 > 0:24:43Fantastic. Right, we are coming down, then.
0:24:46 > 0:24:48And now there's an added pressure.
0:24:48 > 0:24:50That's it. This way.
0:24:50 > 0:24:53Owners Chris and Bev have come to witness the arrival
0:24:53 > 0:24:54of their new dream home.
0:24:56 > 0:25:00It's amazing. I still can't believe that everything's in there.
0:25:02 > 0:25:05It looks small like that. It's much, much bigger when you get inside.
0:25:05 > 0:25:09- Much, much bigger. - We'll have to pinch his kerb.
0:25:09 > 0:25:11Jason has a ten-man-strong team...
0:25:11 > 0:25:14Come off that grass. That's it. Straight.
0:25:14 > 0:25:17..to help him negotiate the tight roads at the holiday park.
0:25:17 > 0:25:18That's it, this way.
0:25:18 > 0:25:20Doug, can I get down that side?
0:25:20 > 0:25:23You've got plenty of run-off, so you can.
0:25:23 > 0:25:25But even the most experienced...
0:25:25 > 0:25:27All right.
0:25:27 > 0:25:29..can get stuck in the mud.
0:25:29 > 0:25:30We are off-roading, really.
0:25:34 > 0:25:37It's a nervous time for Bev and Chris.
0:25:39 > 0:25:41It's stuck on something now.
0:25:41 > 0:25:42Hold it there, Darren.
0:25:44 > 0:25:47It's not going up something.
0:25:47 > 0:25:51The team may have safely transported this home nearly 200 miles north
0:25:51 > 0:25:54- of the A1...- The last thing we want to do now, having got it
0:25:54 > 0:25:57all this way, is to break it at the final hurdle.
0:25:58 > 0:26:00Very tense indeed.
0:26:00 > 0:26:02But after eight hours on the road,
0:26:02 > 0:26:04is the move about to end in disaster?
0:26:12 > 0:26:13Tyne & Wear.
0:26:14 > 0:26:17It's one of the A1's smallest counties.
0:26:18 > 0:26:20But it's also one of its busiest.
0:26:21 > 0:26:24Now on a two-lane section close to Newcastle...
0:26:25 > 0:26:29..PC Alan Keenleyside is on his way to a reported car fire.
0:26:29 > 0:26:33These calls are classified as Grade 1 emergencies.
0:26:33 > 0:26:36It means there's an immediate risk to life.
0:26:36 > 0:26:40Historically, with older cars, you used to get a lot of vehicle fires,
0:26:40 > 0:26:43but certainly of late, the way the cars are nowadays,
0:26:43 > 0:26:45vehicle fires are getting less and less.
0:26:47 > 0:26:50Alan's first impressions at the scene are reassuring.
0:26:50 > 0:26:53There's no smoke and his colleagues seem to have the situation
0:26:53 > 0:26:55under control.
0:26:55 > 0:26:56- Is everything all right?- Yes.
0:26:56 > 0:26:59Good. We had a report that the car was smoking as well?
0:27:04 > 0:27:06Oh, the clutch.
0:27:06 > 0:27:09There's a real smell of burning coming from the car.
0:27:09 > 0:27:11You can see the clutch pedal's completely gone,
0:27:11 > 0:27:15so it looks like your clutch cable's snapped.
0:27:15 > 0:27:18It will be a recovery from here, all right?
0:27:18 > 0:27:22Agnes and her husband Robert have been to pick up their son's car.
0:27:22 > 0:27:25He'd left it at work last night to go for a drink.
0:27:25 > 0:27:28We picked it up for him as a favour
0:27:28 > 0:27:31and we were just taking it to his home.
0:27:31 > 0:27:36He's just sorry it was, you know, we were stuck with the problem.
0:27:36 > 0:27:38Agnes had only been driving it for a few minutes
0:27:38 > 0:27:40when it started losing power.
0:27:40 > 0:27:42Luckily, her husband was following behind.
0:27:44 > 0:27:45Just as I was driving along,
0:27:45 > 0:27:50the car was making a very loud noise when I changed gear.
0:27:50 > 0:27:51So I pulled in.
0:27:51 > 0:27:55I knew something was wrong cos it wouldn't go into gear, you know.
0:27:55 > 0:27:59You feel unsafe with the cars hurtling past.
0:27:59 > 0:28:01But the police have been wonderful.
0:28:01 > 0:28:04Because you are far enough off the A1,
0:28:04 > 0:28:06we can actually leave this vehicle in situ here.
0:28:06 > 0:28:10It will be entirely up to you just to arrange that recovery yourself.
0:28:10 > 0:28:13One of the options is, your good lady and you could jump
0:28:13 > 0:28:17into your car, nip up to the shopping park here,
0:28:17 > 0:28:19grab a coffee or something,
0:28:19 > 0:28:21the RAC will give you a ring when they're a couple of minutes away
0:28:21 > 0:28:23and you can meet them back here with the key.
0:28:25 > 0:28:28Car fires used to be a common occurrence.
0:28:28 > 0:28:30These days, though, they're rare.
0:28:33 > 0:28:38Once upon a time, a car would catch fire reasonably easily, but now,
0:28:38 > 0:28:40because of the way vehicles are built...
0:28:41 > 0:28:43..the fuel cut-offs, the insulation,
0:28:43 > 0:28:47the fire suppression systems in vehicles,
0:28:47 > 0:28:50fires aren't as common as what they used to be.
0:28:50 > 0:28:54A lot of people mistake vehicle defects for vehicle fires.
0:28:56 > 0:28:58If the brakes are binding on a vehicle, if there's a collision,
0:28:58 > 0:29:00the air bags go off.
0:29:00 > 0:29:02People say the vehicle's on fire.
0:29:02 > 0:29:05Actually, it could just be a mechanical defect.
0:29:05 > 0:29:08I think everybody, when they see smoke,
0:29:08 > 0:29:11they revert to worst-case scenario and shout vehicle fire.
0:29:11 > 0:29:15But I would never blame people for that, that's a human reaction.
0:29:15 > 0:29:18But ultimately, you've got to have an open mind when you respond
0:29:18 > 0:29:19to these incidents.
0:29:20 > 0:29:23But not every case turns into a false alarm.
0:29:25 > 0:29:28It's 3pm and just as Alan is heading back to the station,
0:29:28 > 0:29:31he finds himself in the middle of a real emergency.
0:29:33 > 0:29:35Are you all right if this flows?
0:29:35 > 0:29:37Are you all right if I keep this lane flowing?
0:29:37 > 0:29:40- Yeah, yeah.- Are you happy with that?
0:29:40 > 0:29:43The Fire Service were on the scene within minutes,
0:29:43 > 0:29:45but Alan still doesn't know if anyone's been injured.
0:29:47 > 0:29:50We've got complete closure,
0:29:50 > 0:29:51northbound from Tealand Road at the minute.
0:29:51 > 0:29:55Lane one southbound is passable.
0:29:55 > 0:29:58Traffic is going to be very busy in this area now.
0:29:58 > 0:29:59Just let the firm know, please.
0:30:02 > 0:30:04Yes, yes, they are extinguishing the fire now.
0:30:04 > 0:30:07They are in lane two southbound.
0:30:07 > 0:30:11I don't actually know where the owners are around here.
0:30:11 > 0:30:14It's a dangerous situation on a busy road.
0:30:14 > 0:30:17The team need to extinguish this fire and find out what has happened
0:30:17 > 0:30:18to the driver.
0:30:21 > 0:30:25On the northbound stretch of the A1 near Pontefract,
0:30:25 > 0:30:28Paul Day and Rob Larkin are still at the scene
0:30:28 > 0:30:30of a multi-vehicle pile-up.
0:30:30 > 0:30:32The road has been closed
0:30:32 > 0:30:35and rush-hour traffic is now starting to build.
0:30:35 > 0:30:37It's causing stop-start traffic further south,
0:30:37 > 0:30:40which is a severe risk for other drivers.
0:30:41 > 0:30:43Non-injury crash.
0:30:43 > 0:30:45Lot of debris, lot of mess,
0:30:45 > 0:30:47so what we're doing,
0:30:47 > 0:30:50clearing up as best we can, make the scene safe,
0:30:50 > 0:30:53allowing traffic to run past in lane two.
0:30:53 > 0:30:56That should be a good 'un, then.
0:30:56 > 0:30:58Luckily, the damaged truck is still driveable.
0:30:58 > 0:31:00By moving it out of the second lane,
0:31:00 > 0:31:03there's a good chance it can be reopened soon.
0:31:04 > 0:31:06Just going out of lane one closure,
0:31:06 > 0:31:09cos we've got the stricken vehicles in lane one.
0:31:09 > 0:31:11Once we've got this in place,
0:31:11 > 0:31:14we can let this traffic go past in lane two.
0:31:14 > 0:31:18Just waiting for Paul to finish sweeping up this debris
0:31:18 > 0:31:20and then we should be good to go.
0:31:20 > 0:31:24The A1 has been completely closed for about ten minutes,
0:31:24 > 0:31:26causing huge tailbacks.
0:31:26 > 0:31:29But thanks to Rob and Paul's swift response,
0:31:29 > 0:31:31one lane can now be reopened.
0:31:34 > 0:31:39Rob has some bad news that will mean a big delay to reopening the other lane.
0:31:41 > 0:31:44I've just discovered that one of the vehicles is a hybrid vehicle.
0:31:45 > 0:31:48When they're hybrid, we won't recover them cos there's a chance
0:31:48 > 0:31:50the bodywork could be live,
0:31:50 > 0:31:52so we leave it to the recovery agents to do that.
0:31:54 > 0:31:56While they wait for the recovery truck,
0:31:56 > 0:31:58Paul offers the drivers some advice.
0:31:58 > 0:32:03If you can give your details to each party, if you saw it, for a witness,
0:32:03 > 0:32:05job will be a good 'un from us and you can go then.
0:32:05 > 0:32:07- OK, cool.- All right?
0:32:07 > 0:32:09You two - have you exchanged details?
0:32:09 > 0:32:12- No, not yet.- If you can write name, address,
0:32:12 > 0:32:15contact number down of the driver, or your company,
0:32:15 > 0:32:19- but I need the driver's name and contact number, yeah?- Yeah.
0:32:19 > 0:32:22The situation is made all the more dangerous
0:32:22 > 0:32:25because of the exact spot where the accident has happened.
0:32:25 > 0:32:27Just being on the viaduct, there's no hard shoulder.
0:32:27 > 0:32:30There's no hard shoulder, there's nowhere for them to go.
0:32:30 > 0:32:33So we just have to cone out behind it, like we have done,
0:32:33 > 0:32:35and get traffic flowing past it in lane two.
0:32:35 > 0:32:37Yes, it does cause a minor problem,
0:32:37 > 0:32:39but it's nothing that we can't deal with.
0:32:39 > 0:32:44Meanwhile, the delays mean the tailbacks keep on growing.
0:32:44 > 0:32:47We've been here probably 40, 50 minutes.
0:32:49 > 0:32:53We initially stopped traffic, which creates its own issues and backlog.
0:32:53 > 0:32:57We've had an update that the impact of the traffic is back
0:32:57 > 0:33:00at least two junctions, which takes it down to Doncaster Road.
0:33:00 > 0:33:04That then is probably six miles.
0:33:04 > 0:33:06It is flowing past,
0:33:06 > 0:33:09but we've got quite a considerable amount of traffic backlog.
0:33:11 > 0:33:13Both lanes now, because people are looking.
0:33:16 > 0:33:1920 minutes later though, the recovery truck arrives to pick up
0:33:19 > 0:33:23the hybrid. By now, the tailbacks are nearly five miles long.
0:33:23 > 0:33:25I'm sure you've already noticed, mate,
0:33:25 > 0:33:28but it's a hybrid so we don't know whether it's live or not.
0:33:28 > 0:33:29- We'll leave it to you.- No worries.
0:33:33 > 0:33:35I'm going to try it at first,
0:33:35 > 0:33:37to see if it's live. If it's not live,
0:33:37 > 0:33:39we'll just leave it dead and just pull it on with slips.
0:33:39 > 0:33:41It should, hopefully have a shutdown on it,
0:33:41 > 0:33:43which will disable all systems.
0:33:43 > 0:33:46So, we'll take it from here, get stuck in and go for it,
0:33:46 > 0:33:48get this motorway flowing as quick as we can.
0:33:51 > 0:33:54With the hybrid safe, it can at last be taken away.
0:33:55 > 0:33:59And finally, Rob and Paul can open the second lane and traffic
0:33:59 > 0:34:00can begin to get to normal.
0:34:03 > 0:34:07It's always important to get a lane opened as soon as possible
0:34:07 > 0:34:09and then to clear it as soon as possible.
0:34:09 > 0:34:14It does back up daily, but with us having one lane shut here as well,
0:34:14 > 0:34:16that would have impacted on it quite significantly.
0:34:18 > 0:34:19If it hadn't have been a hybrid,
0:34:19 > 0:34:22we may well have been able to drag it off network,
0:34:22 > 0:34:25just round the bend is a bit of a hard standing.
0:34:26 > 0:34:28But with it being a hybrid, we couldn't touch it.
0:34:41 > 0:34:43Three counties north in Tyne & Wear,
0:34:43 > 0:34:46traffic officer PC Alan Keenleyside
0:34:46 > 0:34:48is still dealing with a serious car fire.
0:34:50 > 0:34:53The blaze has been going for 15 minutes.
0:34:53 > 0:34:55Thankfully, the driver of the car, Jennifer Mountain,
0:34:55 > 0:34:58has been unharmed in the incident.
0:34:58 > 0:34:59Are you all right, first and foremost?
0:34:59 > 0:35:01- Yes.- That's the important thing.- OK.
0:35:01 > 0:35:04That can be, well, I was going to say that can be fixed, it can't be.
0:35:04 > 0:35:05But, it's insured.
0:35:07 > 0:35:08What about recovery for this?
0:35:08 > 0:35:12Do you want us to go ahead and get that organised for you?
0:35:12 > 0:35:13- Yes.- All right.
0:35:13 > 0:35:16Thanks to improved safety systems and better engineering,
0:35:16 > 0:35:19car fires on this scale are rare.
0:35:19 > 0:35:23But when they do happen, they can have devastating consequences.
0:35:26 > 0:35:29The A1 is literally just over that roundabout there.
0:35:29 > 0:35:32So as we've been on the A1, seen the big billowing smoke,
0:35:32 > 0:35:34we've come off the A1,
0:35:34 > 0:35:37only come about 100 metres. Fire Brigade were already in attendance
0:35:37 > 0:35:39and they've very quickly got this fire under control.
0:35:39 > 0:35:43It's really, really dangerous around a car fire.
0:35:43 > 0:35:45There's a lot of explosives within a car.
0:35:45 > 0:35:48You're talking the bits that hold the bonnet up,
0:35:48 > 0:35:51the air bag firing mechanisms and the like.
0:35:51 > 0:35:52Really, really dangerous.
0:35:54 > 0:35:56When the fire started,
0:35:56 > 0:35:59Jennifer was going to pick up her son from school.
0:36:00 > 0:36:02- You come up the hill...?- Yeah,
0:36:02 > 0:36:04they just stopped working so I put my hazards on
0:36:04 > 0:36:06and then it set on fire, so I ran out.
0:36:06 > 0:36:10All the best, we'll take care of your car and get it away.
0:36:10 > 0:36:13As Jennifer heads off, Alan turns his attention
0:36:13 > 0:36:17back to the clear up and the possible cause of the incident.
0:36:17 > 0:36:21Right now, we need to get this lane reopened and get this traffic
0:36:21 > 0:36:23flowing out of Newcastle as quickly as we possibly can.
0:36:23 > 0:36:25The A1 is going to be affected as well,
0:36:25 > 0:36:26so back to patrolling that
0:36:26 > 0:36:28and making sure that's run as it needs to be.
0:36:30 > 0:36:33Thankfully, the Tyne & Wear Fire Service got to the scene quickly
0:36:33 > 0:36:35and managed to put out the flames,
0:36:35 > 0:36:38but reopening the road won't be straightforward.
0:36:38 > 0:36:42We are getting the car recovered, but even if the car's recovered,
0:36:42 > 0:36:44we're not going to be in a position to open this road.
0:36:44 > 0:36:47That's because all this metal has just melted in.
0:36:47 > 0:36:50It's molten into the road surface.
0:36:50 > 0:36:53This happens a lot at road traffic collisions where,
0:36:53 > 0:36:54if you get a big collision,
0:36:54 > 0:36:57we clear the accident but the road remains closed
0:36:57 > 0:37:00because the local authorities sometimes have got
0:37:00 > 0:37:04to dig the road up and re-lay it before it can be safely reopened.
0:37:04 > 0:37:05That's still smoking, that.
0:37:06 > 0:37:08It's still smouldering.
0:37:10 > 0:37:1345 minutes later, a truck arrives to shift the burnt-out car
0:37:13 > 0:37:16and council workmen can start clearing up the road.
0:37:17 > 0:37:18Needs a new arrow.
0:37:20 > 0:37:22You not got any white paint on you?
0:37:22 > 0:37:24- Tippex?- Tippex!
0:37:24 > 0:37:27Much to the relief of the people trying to get home,
0:37:27 > 0:37:30the road won't need completely resurfacing tonight,
0:37:30 > 0:37:32meaning traffic can start flowing again.
0:37:34 > 0:37:37We've had a look at it with the engineer and the road is ready to be
0:37:37 > 0:37:40reopened, so, all this traffic backing up out of Newcastle
0:37:40 > 0:37:42towards the A1, we can get that going again
0:37:42 > 0:37:44and everyone is able to get home.
0:37:44 > 0:37:48Right on rush hour now, 4:20pm on a Tuesday afternoon, so...
0:37:50 > 0:37:54..let's go away and get these good people of Newcastle home.
0:37:56 > 0:38:00With traffic moving once more, it's been an eventful end to the day.
0:38:00 > 0:38:02But it could have been a whole lot worse.
0:38:04 > 0:38:07That lady, thankfully, she didn't have the kids in the car with her.
0:38:07 > 0:38:09There was just her as a driver, an adult driver.
0:38:09 > 0:38:13She was able to get out straightaway and get herself safe.
0:38:13 > 0:38:15She was on her way to pick the kids up from school,
0:38:15 > 0:38:16so she has got a young family.
0:38:16 > 0:38:20If that car had caught fire 10 or 15 minutes later,
0:38:20 > 0:38:22it could have been two kids in the back-seat.
0:38:22 > 0:38:25So you've got a car on fire, you've got to move the seats forward,
0:38:25 > 0:38:27you've got to get people out the back-seat.
0:38:27 > 0:38:31Horrendously difficult to do, so she's been lucky.
0:38:37 > 0:38:41Nearly 40 miles to the south east in Saltburn-by-the-Sea,
0:38:41 > 0:38:45Chris and Bev Hope have come to see their brand-new retirement home
0:38:45 > 0:38:46being delivered.
0:38:46 > 0:38:50It's travelled nearly 200 miles from Northamptonshire,
0:38:50 > 0:38:53already fully fitted with all the mod cons.
0:38:53 > 0:38:56It's not going to fall off the edge.
0:38:56 > 0:39:00Jason Wainwright and his team have the precarious job of getting the
0:39:00 > 0:39:04house - which is still in two halves - into Chris and Bev's plot.
0:39:04 > 0:39:07- On my left.- Oh, oh.
0:39:07 > 0:39:09Very nearly there. They must be pretty close to that.
0:39:09 > 0:39:11It is, very close to that.
0:39:12 > 0:39:14Daz, let your winch off.
0:39:14 > 0:39:17It's here in one piece, that's the main thing.
0:39:17 > 0:39:18Fantastic.
0:39:18 > 0:39:20Before the two halves are connected,
0:39:20 > 0:39:22Chris takes the unique opportunity
0:39:22 > 0:39:25to walk down the middle of his new home.
0:39:26 > 0:39:30It's incredible, isn't it? Absolutely incredible.
0:39:30 > 0:39:32That wasn't that colour.
0:39:32 > 0:39:34- Kidding. - THEY LAUGH
0:39:35 > 0:39:38To see them like this and then to know what they turn into,
0:39:38 > 0:39:42it's absolutely gobsmacking, it really is.
0:39:42 > 0:39:43Everybody clear?
0:39:43 > 0:39:45Now, it's the moment of truth.
0:39:46 > 0:39:48Here we go, positioning.
0:39:50 > 0:39:52Everybody clear, blocks out?
0:39:56 > 0:39:57Inch.
0:39:59 > 0:40:02After some skilful manoeuvring from Jason,
0:40:02 > 0:40:05the 32-tonne house is finally in place.
0:40:06 > 0:40:09Oh, no, door ain't going to work yet.
0:40:09 > 0:40:10It's not quite level.
0:40:14 > 0:40:15Super.
0:40:16 > 0:40:17Gravy.
0:40:19 > 0:40:22Chris and Bev can look forward to moving in.
0:40:22 > 0:40:23Cheerio, adios.
0:40:23 > 0:40:27For Jason and his team, it's time to head back down the A1.
0:40:38 > 0:40:41It's three weeks since Chris and Bev's dream retirement home
0:40:41 > 0:40:44travelled nearly 200 miles up the A1
0:40:44 > 0:40:46and now they've finally moved in.
0:40:48 > 0:40:52- This house has been more... - More than we hoped for. - ..than we hoped for.
0:40:52 > 0:40:54It's just amazing from start to finish.
0:40:54 > 0:40:56It's turned out better than I...
0:40:56 > 0:40:58Better than we dreamed of, yeah.
0:40:59 > 0:41:01The house has two double bedrooms.
0:41:01 > 0:41:03One with an en-suite bathroom.
0:41:05 > 0:41:07We've never had an en-suite in our life and now we've got one,
0:41:07 > 0:41:09so that's really pleasing.
0:41:09 > 0:41:13The bed is actually in here when it comes up on the lorry.
0:41:13 > 0:41:17The little dressing table, the little stool, they were all in.
0:41:18 > 0:41:22As well as a living room and dining area, and a fully fitted bathroom,
0:41:22 > 0:41:24there's one room that Bev loves the most.
0:41:26 > 0:41:28I love the kitchen. I've never had a kitchen as big as this before,
0:41:28 > 0:41:30I've only had tiny kitchens.
0:41:30 > 0:41:32So this is a luxury for me.
0:41:32 > 0:41:35I really like being able to look out the window into the woods.
0:41:35 > 0:41:37It's so quiet, isn't it?
0:41:37 > 0:41:39- Really peaceful.- Peaceful.
0:41:39 > 0:41:41You can actually hear the sea, so that's really nice.
0:41:43 > 0:41:46To help put the finishing touches to their dream home...
0:41:46 > 0:41:47Hello.
0:41:47 > 0:41:50..Chris and Bev's daughter Lauren and grandson Rueben,
0:41:50 > 0:41:51have paid them a visit.
0:41:51 > 0:41:54There you go, Ruebs, box of elephants.
0:41:54 > 0:41:58Hello, I am Mr Pinky...
0:41:58 > 0:41:59Bluey.
0:42:00 > 0:42:02I think we feel quite settled now, don't we?
0:42:02 > 0:42:05At first it felt like we were on holiday.
0:42:05 > 0:42:08- But now...- Especially with getting these little trinkets out,
0:42:08 > 0:42:10they sort of personalise it all
0:42:10 > 0:42:12rather than looking like blank space.
0:42:12 > 0:42:15L-O-V-E.
0:42:15 > 0:42:19- Love.- Love. I was just thinking the other day, if I won a lot of money,
0:42:19 > 0:42:21I don't know whether I'd want to move now.
0:42:21 > 0:42:23I wouldn't, no. Don't want a big mansion, do you?
0:42:23 > 0:42:25No, definitely not.
0:42:25 > 0:42:27- Cosy little house for the two of us.- Yeah.
0:42:33 > 0:42:36The uninsured driver's car was later scrapped
0:42:36 > 0:42:38and he's still waiting to appear in court.
0:42:40 > 0:42:44The driver of the overloaded truck was interviewed under caution
0:42:44 > 0:42:46and is due before magistrates.
0:42:47 > 0:42:51And further investigations revealed the car fire in Tyne & Wear
0:42:51 > 0:42:54started after a major electrical fault.
0:42:54 > 0:42:57Next time - traffic police in Scotland...
0:42:57 > 0:42:59- Oh, goodness. - ..deal with a shocking incident.
0:42:59 > 0:43:04This is actually the bodywork of the car that skidded along the road.
0:43:04 > 0:43:08A battle to get a mammoth machine to the end of the road in London.
0:43:08 > 0:43:12We are going southbound down the A1 on the northbound carriageway.
0:43:13 > 0:43:17And a rear-end collision puts traffic officers at risk
0:43:17 > 0:43:19on the A1 front line.
0:43:19 > 0:43:22Cars are coming close, so it is a dangerous place to be.