0:00:02 > 0:00:04The A1, Britain's longest road.
0:00:05 > 0:00:08Stretching almost 400 miles, from the City of London
0:00:08 > 0:00:11to the heart of the Scottish capital.
0:00:13 > 0:00:16Connecting two nations and passing through 18 counties.
0:00:16 > 0:00:18It's an unrivalled highway,
0:00:18 > 0:00:21used by hundreds of thousands of vehicles every day.
0:00:21 > 0:00:24We're going southbound, down the A1,
0:00:24 > 0:00:26on the northbound carriageway.
0:00:27 > 0:00:30But not all journeys go to plan.
0:00:32 > 0:00:34I thought, am I going to lose my life?
0:00:34 > 0:00:38Cars are coming close. It is the dangerous place to be.
0:00:38 > 0:00:41Lives can hang in the balance.
0:00:41 > 0:00:43The rear end of that vehicle, it's unrecognisable.
0:00:43 > 0:00:45This is actually the bodywork of the car.
0:00:47 > 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.
0:00:53 > 0:00:55POLICE SIREN
0:00:55 > 0:00:56The police...
0:00:58 > 0:00:59..response teams...
0:00:59 > 0:01:02We don't know whether they've got the road closed... We don't know what's happened.
0:01:02 > 0:01:04..and traffic officers...
0:01:06 > 0:01:07Keep going.
0:01:08 > 0:01:10..keeping Britain's most iconic road...
0:01:10 > 0:01:13- Get out.- ..on the move.
0:01:14 > 0:01:17Substantially damaged flatbed truck in lane two.
0:01:18 > 0:01:21The A1, the monster that it is, will start to return to normal.
0:01:25 > 0:01:26Coming up...
0:01:27 > 0:01:28..traffic police in Scotland...
0:01:28 > 0:01:31- Goodness. - ..deal with a shocking incident.
0:01:31 > 0:01:35This is actually the bodywork of the car that's skidded along the road.
0:01:36 > 0:01:40A battle to get a mammoth machine to the end of the road in London.
0:01:40 > 0:01:42We're going southbound, down the A1,
0:01:42 > 0:01:44on the northbound carriageway.
0:01:46 > 0:01:49And a rear-end collision puts traffic officers at risk
0:01:49 > 0:01:52on the A1 front line.
0:01:52 > 0:01:56Cars are coming close, so it is the dangerous place to be.
0:02:04 > 0:02:06Spanning nearly 400 miles,
0:02:06 > 0:02:11the A1 passes by some of Britain's most recognisable landmarks.
0:02:11 > 0:02:13From Ferrybridge Power Station in West Yorkshire,
0:02:13 > 0:02:15to the bustling metropolis of Newcastle.
0:02:18 > 0:02:20But as the road enters Scotland,
0:02:20 > 0:02:23it cuts through much more barren landscapes,
0:02:23 > 0:02:26where the hills of the Borders meet the wild North Sea.
0:02:29 > 0:02:32Patrolling this isolated section of the road
0:02:32 > 0:02:36near the border with England are PCs Stuart Logan and Davey Johnson.
0:02:39 > 0:02:43This area's rugged beauty is certainly captivating,
0:02:43 > 0:02:47even for those who spend countless hours driving through it.
0:02:47 > 0:02:49Very picturesque down here, too.
0:02:49 > 0:02:52- It is.- The sea would be a touch chilly, though.
0:02:52 > 0:02:54But it's very nice to look at.
0:02:57 > 0:03:01As night falls, Stuart and Davey's first emergency call comes in.
0:03:06 > 0:03:07POLICE SIREN
0:03:09 > 0:03:14When vehicles career off the road, there's a real threat to life.
0:03:14 > 0:03:17People can be trapped inside with serious injuries.
0:03:19 > 0:03:22And Stuart and Davey fear the car could cause more havoc.
0:03:24 > 0:03:29Our concern will be that a secondary collision could occur.
0:03:29 > 0:03:31People are not anticipating
0:03:31 > 0:03:34a stricken car lying in the middle of a road.
0:03:34 > 0:03:37So it's really imperative that you get there quickly
0:03:37 > 0:03:40in order to make the scene as safe as we can.
0:03:45 > 0:03:48The accident is just off the A1, along a winding,
0:03:48 > 0:03:50unlit section of a rural B-road.
0:03:55 > 0:03:59As they head round the bend, they're greeted by a shocking sight.
0:04:03 > 0:04:04Oh, goodness.
0:04:09 > 0:04:11Somehow, the car has ended up on its side,
0:04:11 > 0:04:13right in the middle of the road.
0:04:16 > 0:04:20Miraculously, the driver has walked away with minor injuries
0:04:20 > 0:04:22and is being treated by paramedics.
0:04:22 > 0:04:24Are you OK? Are you sore?
0:04:24 > 0:04:27- No, I'm not sore, just shaken. - OK, no problem.
0:04:29 > 0:04:31To prevent another accident,
0:04:31 > 0:04:33Stuart and Davey now need to stop all traffic at the scene.
0:04:33 > 0:04:36There's a car in the middle of the road, so you can't get past.
0:04:36 > 0:04:38- Where are you heading to? - Hello, yes,
0:04:38 > 0:04:40there's a car in the middle of the road, sir.
0:04:40 > 0:04:42- I'd better go back, then. - Yes, unfortunately. All right.
0:04:42 > 0:04:44- I'll go and turn round... - OK, sir. No problem.
0:04:48 > 0:04:49Stuart's pretty sure he knows
0:04:49 > 0:04:52how the car's ended up in such a bizarre position.
0:04:57 > 0:05:00Looking at the scene here, it's clear what's happened -
0:05:00 > 0:05:02that the driver's come round this bend
0:05:02 > 0:05:04that we've just come round here,
0:05:04 > 0:05:08and then obviously then subsequently made contact with the shrubbery
0:05:08 > 0:05:10and the wire fencing.
0:05:10 > 0:05:13And it's obviously just hit the vehicle at an absolute sweet spot,
0:05:13 > 0:05:15which has caused it to overturn.
0:05:15 > 0:05:19I mean, air bags won't deploy unnecessarily.
0:05:19 > 0:05:23But, I mean, obviously, it's had a...quite a heck of a dunt there.
0:05:26 > 0:05:28The car's a total write-off,
0:05:28 > 0:05:31but Stuart's convinced that it saved the driver's life.
0:05:31 > 0:05:35Many years ago, if this had been an old vehicle,
0:05:35 > 0:05:37or something from the '80s,
0:05:37 > 0:05:40the damage would've been inflicted on the actual person's body,
0:05:40 > 0:05:42as opposed to the car absorbing it.
0:05:44 > 0:05:47While the driver's taken away for treatment,
0:05:47 > 0:05:50Stuart must now figure out how to move the rolled-over car
0:05:50 > 0:05:52and get the road reopened.
0:05:58 > 0:06:02Every year, there are over 2,000 separate accidents
0:06:02 > 0:06:05along the A1 between London and Edinburgh.
0:06:08 > 0:06:12One in every seven takes place along a short stretch near Newcastle.
0:06:18 > 0:06:21Today, traffic officers Peter Senior and Scott Wilson...
0:06:21 > 0:06:26- OK, mate?- Yeah.- ..will patrol a part of this corridor of collisions.
0:06:29 > 0:06:31Charlie, Lima 41, go ahead, over.
0:06:31 > 0:06:33Ironically, an area
0:06:33 > 0:06:36that's watched over by the A1's very own guardian angel.
0:06:36 > 0:06:38There's Rusty Rita, Peter.
0:06:38 > 0:06:40Aye, Rusty Rita, Angel of the North.
0:06:44 > 0:06:48Our role is basically keeping the traffic moving, erm,
0:06:48 > 0:06:53and dealing with absolutely anything that can happen out on the road.
0:06:53 > 0:06:56People keep asking, "What's a typical day?"
0:06:56 > 0:06:59It's a difficult question to answer, because you just never know
0:06:59 > 0:07:01what you're going to be dealing with.
0:07:03 > 0:07:05We've got something in the opposite carriageway.
0:07:07 > 0:07:09The pair quickly head towards the scene.
0:07:12 > 0:07:14It appears this troublesome section of the A1
0:07:14 > 0:07:16has claimed its latest victim.
0:07:20 > 0:07:22Hello. Are you all right?
0:07:24 > 0:07:26- Have you had a little bump, have you?- Yeah.
0:07:26 > 0:07:30- Have you exchanged your details with the other driver? - Yeah, these are his details here.
0:07:30 > 0:07:36- Right.- It's just... You know when you just don't know what to do?- Yeah.
0:07:36 > 0:07:38Nicole Wall's been left badly shaken
0:07:38 > 0:07:40after a near miss caused her to hit the kerb.
0:07:42 > 0:07:45- You're not injured at all? - No, no.- Is the car badly damaged?
0:07:45 > 0:07:49Um, I can't drive, because both those wheels are knackered.
0:07:49 > 0:07:53We'll just hang on, while you make sure you get something sorted, OK?
0:07:53 > 0:07:55With her boyfriend on the way,
0:07:55 > 0:07:58Peter knows there's a limit to what he can do.
0:07:58 > 0:08:00Well, we're not mechanics.
0:08:00 > 0:08:03I mean, as drivers, yes, we do know how to change a wheel,
0:08:03 > 0:08:06but, you know, it's out of our role to do that.
0:08:08 > 0:08:12For Nicole, today's routine journey along the A1 has ended
0:08:12 > 0:08:15with a seriously scary experience.
0:08:15 > 0:08:17It's just upsetting, isn't it?
0:08:26 > 0:08:29So Pete's role is to offer a comforting shoulder to cry on.
0:08:29 > 0:08:32What I'll do, I'll pass your details to our control room,
0:08:32 > 0:08:34they might give you a ring in a while,
0:08:34 > 0:08:36to make sure you're all right and you're getting sorted.
0:08:36 > 0:08:39- Thank you.- Is there any other concerns before we leave you?
0:08:39 > 0:08:40- No...- You're all right now, are you?
0:08:40 > 0:08:42- Yeah, I'm better now, yeah.- OK.
0:08:42 > 0:08:44Take care, OK?
0:08:52 > 0:08:55I think she was just pleased to see somebody
0:08:55 > 0:08:58who could give her a bit of advice and reassurance.
0:08:58 > 0:09:00You know, I think it helped put her at comfort a bit.
0:09:00 > 0:09:03I've been on jobs before, and...
0:09:03 > 0:09:05Big massive bloke is a quivering wreck
0:09:05 > 0:09:08cos he's on the hard shoulder, trying to change a tyre.
0:09:08 > 0:09:10The man could change his wheel, he did it fine,
0:09:10 > 0:09:14but because he was there on his own, he was absolutely petrified.
0:09:16 > 0:09:17For Peter and Scott,
0:09:17 > 0:09:21it's just the start of what promises to be a long and busy shift on this
0:09:21 > 0:09:24dangerous and anything-but-angelic stretch of road.
0:09:29 > 0:09:33As well as commuters, the A1 sees thousands of truckers every day,
0:09:33 > 0:09:36ferrying goods up and down the country.
0:09:38 > 0:09:40Nearly 120 miles south,
0:09:40 > 0:09:43a team is preparing to move a seriously large load
0:09:43 > 0:09:46all the way to the end of the A1 in London.
0:09:48 > 0:09:50In fertile farmland around Goole,
0:09:50 > 0:09:54haulage contractors Ross Knowles and Alan Metheringham
0:09:54 > 0:09:55have an early start.
0:09:55 > 0:09:58Just tell us when the weight's off it, Ross.
0:09:58 > 0:10:01They're preparing their 70-foot-long trailer
0:10:01 > 0:10:03for what's set to be a monster mission.
0:10:06 > 0:10:07This huge pea viner
0:10:07 > 0:10:11is used to harvest more than 6,000 peas per second.
0:10:11 > 0:10:14But today, it's heading to the capital to star
0:10:14 > 0:10:16in the Lord Mayor's Show.
0:10:16 > 0:10:20It's a 21st-century machine in an 800-year-old procession.
0:10:20 > 0:10:22Russell will tell you which way to go,
0:10:22 > 0:10:24but just keep it nice and steady.
0:10:24 > 0:10:25But its sheer size
0:10:25 > 0:10:28means getting it there isn't going to be easy-peasy
0:10:28 > 0:10:29for Ross and Alan.
0:10:30 > 0:10:35Well, it's four metres wide and the trailer will be about 60 feet long
0:10:35 > 0:10:36when it's...extended.
0:10:37 > 0:10:39And it, er...
0:10:39 > 0:10:41weighs, I think, 27 tonne.
0:10:43 > 0:10:44That's about it, like.
0:10:45 > 0:10:48- Hopefully, it'll all go well. - HE LAUGHS NERVOUSLY
0:10:50 > 0:10:52This massive machine is actually so wide,
0:10:52 > 0:10:55that the team need to extend the width of their trailer
0:10:55 > 0:10:57just to fit it on.
0:10:57 > 0:10:58CONTINUOUS BEEPING
0:11:00 > 0:11:01INDISTINCT SPEECH
0:11:02 > 0:11:04Straight back now.
0:11:05 > 0:11:07Not too much.
0:11:07 > 0:11:09Whoa, whoa. Whoa, go back.
0:11:15 > 0:11:17Going OK, that was just a bit of a hiccup.
0:11:17 > 0:11:19HE WHEEZES AND LAUGHS
0:11:19 > 0:11:21- Hiccups over...- Steady.
0:11:21 > 0:11:25- Whoa.- That's it, whoa. - ..it's finally on board.
0:11:28 > 0:11:30The whole load is 12 metres long,
0:11:30 > 0:11:34four wide, and weighs a tarmac-crushing 65 tonnes.
0:11:36 > 0:11:38This isn't going to be a quick journey.
0:11:40 > 0:11:44The biggest trouble with these is that trees and that on the side of the roads,
0:11:44 > 0:11:47the pea viner costs about 300 grand,
0:11:47 > 0:11:50so the farmers don't want 'em scratching,
0:11:50 > 0:11:52which you can understand, can't you?
0:12:04 > 0:12:07Alan eventually gets the massive pea viner to the A1.
0:12:09 > 0:12:10But he's still got 260 miles
0:12:10 > 0:12:14until he reaches his destination at the Great North Road starting point,
0:12:14 > 0:12:17near St Paul's Cathedral in the heart of London.
0:12:19 > 0:12:22Watching his back over this mission is Ross.
0:12:28 > 0:12:29Transport anything like this,
0:12:29 > 0:12:32you've just got to be aware of everything all the time.
0:12:32 > 0:12:35Just keep your eyes open well in front
0:12:35 > 0:12:37and in your mirrors all the time.
0:12:37 > 0:12:40You've got to be constantly aware of the bridges.
0:12:40 > 0:12:43On roads like this, where it's slightly narrower,
0:12:43 > 0:12:47you straddle the two lanes, to make sure nothing tries to get past.
0:12:47 > 0:12:50Cars try to squeeze past all the time, but they can't.
0:12:50 > 0:12:53- There's just not enough room. - HE WHEEZES AND LAUGHS
0:12:54 > 0:12:58Ironically, it's not Alan who's slowing motorists down today.
0:12:58 > 0:13:0030-minute delay.
0:13:00 > 0:13:01Can do without that, can't we?
0:13:03 > 0:13:06It's nice to know it's not us causing the traffic,
0:13:06 > 0:13:09and that people behind will be looking and thinking,
0:13:09 > 0:13:11"I can see a big load up there" -
0:13:11 > 0:13:13and they'll be blaming us anyway!
0:13:14 > 0:13:18Alan has nearly 40 years' experience of travelling up and down the A1,
0:13:18 > 0:13:22so as a veteran of the odd traffic jam, he's come well-prepared.
0:13:22 > 0:13:23That's the fridge,
0:13:23 > 0:13:26with all my bits and pieces in.
0:13:26 > 0:13:28The other cupboard over...
0:13:28 > 0:13:30Like a stove,
0:13:30 > 0:13:32and that in that one, and under the bed,
0:13:32 > 0:13:37when you lift the bed up, I have tinned food and emergency supplies.
0:13:38 > 0:13:41I'm self-sufficient for a week, if I want to be, with no problem, like.
0:13:41 > 0:13:43I've been held up in the snow...
0:13:44 > 0:13:47..two days on the side of the road and no bother at all.
0:13:50 > 0:13:53With lunchtime looming and traffic going nowhere fast,
0:13:53 > 0:13:56Alan's meals on wheels might come in handy.
0:14:00 > 0:14:03For travellers who prefer to park up rather than eat pack-ups,
0:14:03 > 0:14:06then refreshments are never too far away on this road.
0:14:06 > 0:14:09Places such as the A1's Stadium Diner near Grantham
0:14:09 > 0:14:12attracts more than 200 truckers a day.
0:14:12 > 0:14:15They flock there for home-made classics,
0:14:15 > 0:14:18generous portions and service with a smile.
0:14:18 > 0:14:19Thanks for that.
0:14:20 > 0:14:22Margaret and Albert White
0:14:22 > 0:14:25have made their fortune keeping A1 truckers trucking.
0:14:25 > 0:14:27Yeah, we have steak pie, mince and onion pie,
0:14:27 > 0:14:30chicken and mushroom, cottage pie, chilli, lasagne.
0:14:32 > 0:14:34And with her personally designed menu,
0:14:34 > 0:14:36it's Margaret's way or the highway.
0:14:36 > 0:14:38They're not allowed to do anything different.
0:14:38 > 0:14:41If they do anything different, they get told off, don't you, Mary?
0:14:41 > 0:14:45To ensure her loyal customers don't decide to drive on by,
0:14:45 > 0:14:48Margaret knows standards have to be kept high.
0:14:51 > 0:14:54Oh, no. They're not cooked enough. Nowhere near.
0:14:55 > 0:14:58Nicola. They want putting back on, they're as hard as rock.
0:14:58 > 0:14:59- Oh...- Can't saute them.
0:15:01 > 0:15:04But the diner is just one part of their empire.
0:15:05 > 0:15:08With parking space for 200-300 lorries,
0:15:08 > 0:15:10and a massive refilling station,
0:15:10 > 0:15:14Albert's gone from a humble trucker to a successful businessman.
0:15:15 > 0:15:18The business is growing from when we first took the truck stop.
0:15:18 > 0:15:22Margaret was probably doing 200 or 300 eggs a week.
0:15:22 > 0:15:23She's now got to 3,000 eggs,
0:15:23 > 0:15:27so that just gives you a size of the cafe itself,
0:15:27 > 0:15:29the diner and how much that's grown.
0:15:29 > 0:15:33We was probably doing 20, 30 lorries a night, parking up.
0:15:33 > 0:15:36We're now to 200-plus a night.
0:15:36 > 0:15:38We're just busier and busier.
0:15:40 > 0:15:44I think what they say is from a little acorn grows an oak tree,
0:15:44 > 0:15:46or something like that.
0:15:46 > 0:15:49So this is our oak tree now, I think. That's... Yeah.
0:15:51 > 0:15:52At 68,
0:15:52 > 0:15:55Albert's still looking for ways to pull in the pounds
0:15:55 > 0:15:57from the nearby A1.
0:15:58 > 0:16:00He's recently shelled out over 120 grand
0:16:00 > 0:16:02on a state-of-the-art truck wash.
0:16:05 > 0:16:08We've always wanted one of these. I've always wanted one.
0:16:08 > 0:16:12So, er, it's quite nice to say I've got as good a truck wash
0:16:12 > 0:16:14as anybody else has got.
0:16:14 > 0:16:17And, yes, it's pleasing to see it working.
0:16:18 > 0:16:19Yeah.
0:16:19 > 0:16:22It's even more pleasing when there's three lorries behind it
0:16:22 > 0:16:24waiting to be washed, but we can't have everything.
0:16:24 > 0:16:26Not this weather.
0:16:31 > 0:16:33Back on the A1,
0:16:33 > 0:16:37Alan has squeezed his wide load through the traffic jam
0:16:37 > 0:16:39and at 3:30 in the afternoon,
0:16:39 > 0:16:42he's made it to Albert's place for a very late lunch.
0:16:44 > 0:16:46- Hello, are you all right? - Yes, thanks.
0:16:46 > 0:16:48Two teas and two omelette and chips, please.
0:16:48 > 0:16:50How are we doing?
0:16:50 > 0:16:52Murder on the roads today, isn't it, from what I can gather?
0:16:52 > 0:16:54- Yeah.- Yeah, shocking.
0:16:54 > 0:16:57There's a bad accident just up the road there.
0:16:57 > 0:16:59- Yeah.- It's a load of potatoes.
0:17:01 > 0:17:03- Potatoes. - THEY LAUGH
0:17:03 > 0:17:06That would've made some chips, wouldn't it?
0:17:06 > 0:17:07LAUGHTER
0:17:10 > 0:17:13From congestion-causing King Edwards,
0:17:13 > 0:17:15to a date with the Lord Mayor of London.
0:17:15 > 0:17:16Alan's back on the road,
0:17:16 > 0:17:19heading towards the bright lights of the capital,
0:17:19 > 0:17:22where in just a few hours' time,
0:17:22 > 0:17:24he'll face a battle to get his massive pea viner
0:17:24 > 0:17:28to the start of the A1, near St Paul's Cathedral.
0:17:35 > 0:17:38From Britain's busiest city to the Scottish Borders,
0:17:38 > 0:17:42where the quieter section of the A1 still throws up challenges
0:17:42 > 0:17:44for local traffic police.
0:17:47 > 0:17:50PC Stuart Logan and Davey Johnson
0:17:50 > 0:17:54are still dealing with a serious crash just off the dual carriageway.
0:17:56 > 0:18:00This is actually the bodywork of the car that skidded along the road.
0:18:00 > 0:18:03- Probably be the door handle and the mirror.- Yeah.
0:18:03 > 0:18:08The driver's lost control on a bend and spun the car onto its side.
0:18:08 > 0:18:12I can only assume that she's climbed out through this open window,
0:18:12 > 0:18:15erm, because the door -
0:18:15 > 0:18:18it would be quite a significant weight to push that door up
0:18:18 > 0:18:20to get out.
0:18:22 > 0:18:25Miraculously, she's escaped with minor injuries.
0:18:25 > 0:18:27With the pick-up truck now here,
0:18:27 > 0:18:30Stuart and Davey can move the car off the road.
0:18:32 > 0:18:35You attach the chains to the top side of it,
0:18:35 > 0:18:37pull it down onto its wheels,
0:18:37 > 0:18:41and then it'll be winched onto the back of the truck.
0:18:41 > 0:18:43It took a dramatic chain of events for the car
0:18:43 > 0:18:45to end up in this position.
0:18:47 > 0:18:50Getting it back on four wheels isn't for the faint-hearted, either.
0:19:00 > 0:19:02It's only now that Stuart and Davey
0:19:02 > 0:19:05can see the full impact the car's absorbed.
0:19:08 > 0:19:10You can see the fuel rim's completely sheared.
0:19:15 > 0:19:18And Stuart knows the driver's lucky to be alive.
0:19:20 > 0:19:23It's down to luck whether another vehicle
0:19:23 > 0:19:25came round the bend, or didn't,
0:19:25 > 0:19:28and subsequently caused a secondary collision.
0:19:28 > 0:19:32But I think this just comes as a stark reminder to us all
0:19:32 > 0:19:36that you are very, very vulnerable on the roads.
0:19:41 > 0:19:44For the officers, it's back to the A1.
0:19:44 > 0:19:47Davey's been patrolling this patch for over two decades,
0:19:47 > 0:19:48and over the years,
0:19:48 > 0:19:52he's seen a common theme emerge when it comes to crashes.
0:19:53 > 0:19:58Most of the accidents I've attended haven't been down to speed,
0:19:58 > 0:19:59it's been down to driver error.
0:19:59 > 0:20:04At this time of year, you know, the roads are really slippery,
0:20:04 > 0:20:07but because it's not frosty,
0:20:07 > 0:20:10people think that it's OK just to drive as you did in the summer.
0:20:10 > 0:20:12Then you come to, er, say...
0:20:12 > 0:20:15you know, a tight bend on a country road
0:20:15 > 0:20:19and you go to turn on it and the road surface is slippy,
0:20:19 > 0:20:20and rather than go round a corner,
0:20:20 > 0:20:24you just end up going straight on, as perhaps what happened tonight.
0:20:27 > 0:20:30Thankfully, this remote stretch of the A1 in the Borders
0:20:30 > 0:20:33remains quiet throughout the rest of their shift.
0:20:35 > 0:20:37But as Stuart heads back to the station,
0:20:37 > 0:20:39he spots something he can't ignore.
0:20:41 > 0:20:43I've just noticed that there's, er,
0:20:43 > 0:20:45there's an abnormal load escort
0:20:45 > 0:20:48on the opposing carriageway on the A1
0:20:48 > 0:20:52and I heard on the radio that they've suffered a blow-out.
0:20:55 > 0:20:56It's 11pm -
0:20:56 > 0:20:59and Stuart is unlikely to be heading home any time soon.
0:21:09 > 0:21:12Around 70 miles south, on the outskirts of Newcastle,
0:21:12 > 0:21:17lies a stretch of the A1 where there were nearly 300 accidents last year.
0:21:20 > 0:21:22Traffic officers Pete and Scott
0:21:22 > 0:21:25are on night patrol along this most troublesome section.
0:21:28 > 0:21:30Alpha, Charlie, Lima 41.
0:21:32 > 0:21:34It's rush-hour, and with traffic at its peak,
0:21:34 > 0:21:36the pair are expecting problems.
0:21:37 > 0:21:40Something stationary on the other carriageway.
0:21:40 > 0:21:42Is it an RTC or a breakdown?
0:21:42 > 0:21:45- INDISTINCT RADIO VOICE - Breakdown.- Breakdown, I think.
0:21:45 > 0:21:47Police are already on the scene,
0:21:47 > 0:21:50but Peter and Scott need to double back and take over the job.
0:21:51 > 0:21:54However, it's soon clear this simple breakdown
0:21:54 > 0:21:57is more hazardous than they first expected.
0:21:59 > 0:22:02You can see that officer, he's half on the verge,
0:22:02 > 0:22:04but half into the running lane.
0:22:04 > 0:22:07Now, that could encourage traffic to try and pass,
0:22:07 > 0:22:10so we've positioned our vehicle fully into lane one,
0:22:10 > 0:22:13where we'll take control of the traffic behind.
0:22:16 > 0:22:20With vehicles speeding around the bend at 70 mph,
0:22:20 > 0:22:24they need to make the scene safe by warning oncoming traffic.
0:22:26 > 0:22:30I've put in a 100-metre taper of cones and directional arrows -
0:22:30 > 0:22:32and already, you can see how traffic's
0:22:32 > 0:22:35now filtering out into the outer lanes.
0:22:35 > 0:22:38Scott's just put a line of cones down past the incident.
0:22:38 > 0:22:41The idea of that, it means when vehicles get past us,
0:22:41 > 0:22:44they're not likely to just try and jump back in,
0:22:44 > 0:22:46which, again, could be dangerous.
0:22:46 > 0:22:48It turns out the white car
0:22:48 > 0:22:50has actually been involved in an accident,
0:22:50 > 0:22:54leaving driver Misha Patterson stranded for an hour.
0:22:57 > 0:22:59The A1 was at a standstill.
0:22:59 > 0:23:01I was stationary, cos there was someone in front
0:23:01 > 0:23:05trying to get in, on to the A1 and she just smashed in the back.
0:23:07 > 0:23:08A bit shook up.
0:23:08 > 0:23:10Have you got recovery on the way?
0:23:10 > 0:23:12How long are they going to be?
0:23:14 > 0:23:17Right. What we'll do is... It's a bit dangerous.
0:23:17 > 0:23:20What we'll probably do is we'll get recovery sorted for you,
0:23:20 > 0:23:23with it being so close to the live running lane.
0:23:23 > 0:23:25If they come before then, that's fair enough,
0:23:25 > 0:23:28but we'll just get the ball rolling. All right?
0:23:29 > 0:23:32With traffic hurtling past the scene,
0:23:32 > 0:23:35Scott knows that the risk of a second crash is high.
0:23:36 > 0:23:40Some people might not see that and then come and maybe clip it,
0:23:40 > 0:23:42or panic when they do see it and then swerve out.
0:23:42 > 0:23:44It is... It is a safety risk.
0:23:47 > 0:23:50The cordon adds a full element, that they won't see anything.
0:23:50 > 0:23:53Even when we came down the slip, and we knew where it was,
0:23:53 > 0:23:55we couldn't see it until we were right on it.
0:23:57 > 0:23:59Even with a safety cordon in place,
0:23:59 > 0:24:03approaching vehicles are struggling to move out of the lane in time.
0:24:03 > 0:24:06Cars are coming close and they're going past quite quick, as well,
0:24:06 > 0:24:09so it is the dangerous place to be.
0:24:11 > 0:24:15And all it takes is for one driver to misjudge the situation
0:24:15 > 0:24:17to cause further chaos.
0:24:22 > 0:24:25I mean, Peter's extended our taper but, as you can still see,
0:24:25 > 0:24:29cars are still coming up on to our taper of cones and not seeing it.
0:24:33 > 0:24:36The result, another minor bump to deal with -
0:24:36 > 0:24:38and the drivers aren't happy.
0:24:41 > 0:24:44Because nothing can be planned out because it's not planned works,
0:24:44 > 0:24:47there's been another crash in front of our closure.
0:24:47 > 0:24:51There's adequate signage and cones out to filter traffic out...
0:24:51 > 0:24:52With his warning lights flashing
0:24:52 > 0:24:55and the cordon as long as he can make it,
0:24:55 > 0:24:58Peter has done everything he possibly can.
0:24:58 > 0:25:01It appears this van's been travelling down
0:25:01 > 0:25:04on the southbound carriageway towards our closure.
0:25:04 > 0:25:05Just prior to the closure,
0:25:05 > 0:25:08the van slowed down, and for whatever reason,
0:25:08 > 0:25:11the car behind hasn't, and it's bumped the back of the van.
0:25:11 > 0:25:13So it's a minor collision.
0:25:13 > 0:25:17Nobody's injured. The drivers will just have to exchange details now.
0:25:19 > 0:25:23Further up the road, Misha's car is finally being picked up -
0:25:23 > 0:25:26and she's left cursing her luck.
0:25:27 > 0:25:29You can't make some days up, can you?
0:25:41 > 0:25:44As awful as it sounds, it's only a piece of metal.
0:25:44 > 0:25:47At least that can be fixed. As long as you're all right, you know what I mean?
0:25:49 > 0:25:51For Peter and Scott, a seemingly simple job
0:25:51 > 0:25:54has turned into something much more complicated.
0:26:01 > 0:26:04The driver of the Porsche was the one who was upset,
0:26:04 > 0:26:08even though he was the one who drove straight into the back of the van.
0:26:08 > 0:26:13I mean, what he was trying to say is, why didn't we take our closure
0:26:13 > 0:26:14right back to the prior roundabout,
0:26:14 > 0:26:17which was approximately a quarter of a mile away?
0:26:17 > 0:26:22So I did explain to him that due to the size of our vehicle,
0:26:22 > 0:26:26we don't carry enough equipment to put a closure on going so far back.
0:26:28 > 0:26:30Sometimes, credit's hard to come by.
0:26:30 > 0:26:32At least for Peter and Scott,
0:26:32 > 0:26:34it's the end of what's been a hectic shift.
0:26:39 > 0:26:42260 miles south, on the outskirts of London,
0:26:42 > 0:26:46an experienced trucker is hoping his day will be a much quieter one.
0:26:49 > 0:26:52It's almost five in the morning and, at South Mimms services,
0:26:52 > 0:26:54Alan Metheringham and his pea viner
0:26:54 > 0:26:57have a big day in store at the Lord Mayor's Show in London.
0:26:57 > 0:27:00I just check the chains are all tight,
0:27:00 > 0:27:03clean the lights, make sure the marker boards are clean.
0:27:03 > 0:27:06Just make sure everything's secure, basically.
0:27:06 > 0:27:08Nothing's loose, nothing's moved.
0:27:10 > 0:27:14To move this 29-tonne pea harvester in to Britain's busiest city,
0:27:14 > 0:27:17he'll need eyes in the back of his head.
0:27:18 > 0:27:21So Alan's teaming up with a specialist escort crew
0:27:21 > 0:27:23to guide him to his destination.
0:27:23 > 0:27:26- We all ready?- Yeah. - Righto, when you are.
0:27:26 > 0:27:28- Channel 15.- Channel 15... Yeah.
0:27:28 > 0:27:30Righto. Cheers, then.
0:27:36 > 0:27:39Setting off early has paid dividends.
0:27:39 > 0:27:40They've beaten the traffic
0:27:40 > 0:27:44and it's plain sailing all the way into central London.
0:27:48 > 0:27:51But to get the pea viner to the end of the A1 by St Paul's,
0:27:51 > 0:27:53they'll need some extra help.
0:27:59 > 0:28:00For the final stretch,
0:28:00 > 0:28:03they're being escorted by the Metropolitan Police,
0:28:03 > 0:28:05down the wrong side of the road.
0:28:07 > 0:28:09We're going southbound, down the A1,
0:28:09 > 0:28:11on the northbound carriageway.
0:28:11 > 0:28:13The police have closed the road off,
0:28:13 > 0:28:16with the escort van in front and a police escort, as well.
0:28:20 > 0:28:24With Alan skilfully weaving his way through the city streets,
0:28:24 > 0:28:27he's only one more bend to negotiate.
0:28:27 > 0:28:29Just watch the back again, Jeff.
0:28:29 > 0:28:33'You've got loads of room. Fine, keep going. No problem.
0:28:33 > 0:28:34'Yeah.
0:28:34 > 0:28:35'OK, you're out.'
0:28:36 > 0:28:40And, after 260 miles, they've made it.
0:28:42 > 0:28:44St Paul's Cathedral is just in front of us.
0:28:44 > 0:28:46This is where we park.
0:28:48 > 0:28:50- Job done. - HE WHEEZES AND LAUGHS
0:28:52 > 0:28:54Despite the shocking weather,
0:28:54 > 0:28:57hundreds of thousands of people are pouring into central London
0:28:57 > 0:29:00for the 801st Lord Mayor's Show.
0:29:02 > 0:29:05The pea viner is certainly turning plenty of heads,
0:29:05 > 0:29:08and taking the wheel is vehicle engineer Gary Creaser.
0:29:10 > 0:29:13Not only has he got to manoeuvre it off its trailer,
0:29:13 > 0:29:16he'll be driving it through the streets of London
0:29:16 > 0:29:19alongside company director Andrew Raith.
0:29:19 > 0:29:20Gary's the operations manager.
0:29:20 > 0:29:23He's the... He keeps these things actually running.
0:29:23 > 0:29:27He knows how to drive it far better than I do, yeah.
0:29:29 > 0:29:33Their mission is to champion the humble British pea,
0:29:33 > 0:29:35and with the machine fully decked out,
0:29:35 > 0:29:37and the marching peas poised,
0:29:37 > 0:29:40they're determined not to let it rain on their parade.
0:29:41 > 0:29:43But it's going to be a tight-run thing.
0:29:44 > 0:29:46I'm sure we'll squeeze through.
0:29:46 > 0:29:49Something like this has enough power to squeeze through anything.
0:29:49 > 0:29:51Yeah, as long as you don't hit anybody, we're fine, Gary.
0:29:51 > 0:29:53We're fine.
0:29:55 > 0:29:58It's very rare that you follow a flying pig, though.
0:29:58 > 0:29:59THEY LAUGH
0:30:04 > 0:30:07The sound of this parade has been ringing out across the streets
0:30:07 > 0:30:11of central London since it was started over 800 years ago.
0:30:15 > 0:30:18Back then, for those heading out of the capital on the Great North Road,
0:30:18 > 0:30:21the medieval town of Grantham would have been a popular stopping-off
0:30:21 > 0:30:23point for a bite to eat.
0:30:27 > 0:30:32Nowadays, it's the A1 Stadium Diner that's on hand to fill the bellies
0:30:32 > 0:30:34of today's travellers and truckers.
0:30:36 > 0:30:40It's 6.30 in the morning and the catering team are clocking on for
0:30:40 > 0:30:42another busy breakfast shift.
0:30:44 > 0:30:45- Morning.- Morning.
0:30:47 > 0:30:50But along with the usual lumbering juggernauts,
0:30:50 > 0:30:54owner Albert's getting his forecourt ready for some special guests with a
0:30:54 > 0:30:55taste for speed.
0:30:57 > 0:31:00About ten Lamborghinis coming up for breakfast.
0:31:00 > 0:31:02So I'm just putting the signs there
0:31:02 > 0:31:04so they can park in front of the caff.
0:31:05 > 0:31:09I think they're touring Lincolnshire today and then I believe they're
0:31:09 > 0:31:14going to an airfield to do a bit of driving around bollards
0:31:14 > 0:31:16and everything like that.
0:31:17 > 0:31:21I think I'm a bit too old to get in and out of a Lamborghini, nowadays.
0:31:21 > 0:31:25They're a younger man's car, or probably somebody that's a lot
0:31:25 > 0:31:28slimmer than me, anyway, to get in and out of.
0:31:30 > 0:31:34Albert's keen to give these supercar drivers a speedy service.
0:31:34 > 0:31:36- Morning, girls.- Morning.
0:31:36 > 0:31:37How are we doing?
0:31:38 > 0:31:41So it's all hands to the pump - or, in Emma's case,
0:31:41 > 0:31:42the industrial tin opener.
0:31:44 > 0:31:47I'm just preparing the tomatoes.
0:31:47 > 0:31:49We do this every day.
0:31:49 > 0:31:52We have to do eight tomatoes,
0:31:52 > 0:31:55eight beans and we normally do a few extra beans,
0:31:55 > 0:31:57because we get through them quite a lot in the afternoon.
0:31:57 > 0:31:59You'd be surprised how much we get through.
0:31:59 > 0:32:03Most of these will be gone, at latest, tomorrow morning.
0:32:03 > 0:32:07So, again, one of us will be out here doing it again.
0:32:09 > 0:32:12While Emma's up to her elbows in tomatoes...
0:32:13 > 0:32:16..the hungry petrol heads are pulling in for their pit stop.
0:32:16 > 0:32:19I, to be honest, am not a car person,
0:32:19 > 0:32:21but they are gorgeous-looking.
0:32:22 > 0:32:25I don't think... Even if I saved all my wages for the rest of my life,
0:32:25 > 0:32:27I don't think I could get one.
0:32:30 > 0:32:33With almost £2 million worth of Huracans and Aventadors
0:32:33 > 0:32:37cruising onto the forecourt, it's quite a sight for Albert.
0:32:41 > 0:32:43First time we've had ten Lamborghinis.
0:32:43 > 0:32:44Yeah.
0:32:45 > 0:32:48The lorry drivers probably won't be too happy if they have to queue up
0:32:48 > 0:32:49for their breakfast.
0:32:51 > 0:32:53Inside, the griddle's already stacked.
0:32:54 > 0:32:56Come on in, lads.
0:32:56 > 0:32:58And, dressed in her Sunday best,
0:32:58 > 0:33:02Margaret's on hand to make sure her VIP customers get a proper feed.
0:33:03 > 0:33:05But with a dizzying array of meals on offer,
0:33:05 > 0:33:08the drivers seem spoiled for choice.
0:33:10 > 0:33:12You've got to eat, boys, because I want to save up
0:33:12 > 0:33:16for one of these cars. So you have to spend your money.
0:33:16 > 0:33:17After the hard sell,
0:33:17 > 0:33:21these trucker-sized breakfasts are soon flying out.
0:33:22 > 0:33:26But Margaret's more interested in wheels than meals.
0:33:26 > 0:33:29I've had a few sports cars in my day, but nothing like this.
0:33:29 > 0:33:32Wow. Have they locked them?
0:33:32 > 0:33:34I bet they have.
0:33:34 > 0:33:36Better not touch it in case the alarm goes off!
0:33:37 > 0:33:40I think we could still drive one of these, couldn't we, Margaret?
0:33:40 > 0:33:41I think so, yeah.
0:33:41 > 0:33:44One of the guys said, "You can, you're never too old."
0:33:44 > 0:33:47- Get a cushion.- Yeah.
0:33:47 > 0:33:50Inside, the Lambo-lovers can't get enough of the food.
0:33:51 > 0:33:54But even with her regulars having to wait their turn,
0:33:54 > 0:33:56Margaret's not budging from her mantra.
0:33:56 > 0:33:59We don't serve fast food, we serve good food as fast as we can.
0:34:01 > 0:34:03That's my motto.
0:34:07 > 0:34:10The breakfasts are really good today and hopefully it'll settle
0:34:10 > 0:34:13everybody's stomach before we start driving very quickly.
0:34:13 > 0:34:17I think it's great, but it might actually reappear
0:34:17 > 0:34:18when we get on the runway.
0:34:18 > 0:34:21They've had their full English and, as they leave,
0:34:21 > 0:34:24there's just room for a doughnut.
0:34:32 > 0:34:36For Margaret, it's been a perfect pit stop.
0:34:36 > 0:34:38PLATE SMASHES
0:34:38 > 0:34:40- Well, almost. - That's your bonus gone, girl.
0:34:44 > 0:34:48These Lambos will soon be thundering around at some ridiculous speeds.
0:34:49 > 0:34:51But up in Scotland,
0:34:51 > 0:34:54another vehicle with massive horsepower isn't going anywhere.
0:34:59 > 0:35:02- Hello, hello.- How are you doing, all right?- Not bad, thank you.
0:35:02 > 0:35:05Traffic officer PC Stuart Logan should have clocked off by now, but
0:35:05 > 0:35:10faced with a stranded truck carrying a 35-tonne wind turbine part,
0:35:10 > 0:35:12he is now heading for a late one.
0:35:12 > 0:35:14Which one is it that's blown out?
0:35:14 > 0:35:17- The back inner one.- Oh, inside one there. I see that. Yeah.
0:35:17 > 0:35:18It's that one that's gone.
0:35:18 > 0:35:21You can see how much an effect it's having on this outer tyre,
0:35:21 > 0:35:24because the tyre on the inside was blown out,
0:35:24 > 0:35:26so that tyre's got no air in it.
0:35:26 > 0:35:31So now all the weight is now going through this one outer tyre.
0:35:31 > 0:35:35The transporter was halfway through a 70-mile trip from Grangemouth to
0:35:35 > 0:35:39Berwick when driver Chris Leonard realised he had a problem.
0:35:40 > 0:35:43Well, I was driving up there and it were a right bang.
0:35:43 > 0:35:46You can normally tell if it's you.
0:35:46 > 0:35:49It goes like a gunshot going off.
0:35:50 > 0:35:53So, yeah, could've done without this.
0:35:56 > 0:35:59On this section of the A1, there's no hard shoulder.
0:36:00 > 0:36:02Even though the load is well lit,
0:36:02 > 0:36:06Stuart wants to shed more light onto the scene to divert vehicles around
0:36:06 > 0:36:08the stricken lorry.
0:36:12 > 0:36:14It's definitely not a job for the faint-hearted.
0:36:19 > 0:36:23That's a perfect example of drivers just simply not looking where
0:36:23 > 0:36:29they're going. You can see how blatantly obvious this is here.
0:36:29 > 0:36:34And, yet, look at how close these cars come before they even bother
0:36:34 > 0:36:36moving out in the outside lane.
0:36:40 > 0:36:42Get out!
0:36:47 > 0:36:49This is visible to these people
0:36:49 > 0:36:53and they just don't take any notice of it.
0:36:53 > 0:36:56And they come so, so close to us.
0:36:59 > 0:37:03But, unfortunately, this is the risks that we face in dealing with
0:37:03 > 0:37:06incidents on the fast road network.
0:37:07 > 0:37:10Thankfully, Stewart will soon be out of harm's way.
0:37:13 > 0:37:17The recovery team is on scene and Stuart's doing everything he can to
0:37:17 > 0:37:20make this a quick tyre change.
0:37:20 > 0:37:22I'm just giving him a hand so he can see what he's doing.
0:37:22 > 0:37:25It's obviously pretty dark under there.
0:37:25 > 0:37:29He needs to see, make sure the jack's lined up properly.
0:37:29 > 0:37:3230 tonnes would be the complete weight of it,
0:37:32 > 0:37:34so it's a fair old weight.
0:37:34 > 0:37:35More than what your average trolley jack
0:37:35 > 0:37:37would be able to manage, anyway.
0:37:38 > 0:37:42Incredibly, this tiny hydraulic jack is soon supporting the back-end of
0:37:42 > 0:37:44the load.
0:37:44 > 0:37:46Then it's on with the heavyweight tyre swap.
0:37:48 > 0:37:52A pneumatic wrench makes quick work of the wheel nuts,
0:37:52 > 0:37:55but the hardest job of all is getting the new tyre on and,
0:37:55 > 0:37:58for this, only two crowbars will do.
0:38:00 > 0:38:03He's nearly there, I think. It's a tough old beast, eh?
0:38:03 > 0:38:05There's just no give in it. That's the problem, eh?
0:38:09 > 0:38:10There we are. That's it on.
0:38:14 > 0:38:18The whole thing's taken just over ten minutes and soon
0:38:18 > 0:38:19they'll be on their way.
0:38:22 > 0:38:24Get done and bed.
0:38:25 > 0:38:27Busy day.
0:38:29 > 0:38:32- Fingers crossed we don't have another one.- I know, aye, keep safe.
0:38:36 > 0:38:41This lengthy load can now head off to become part of a 115-metre wind
0:38:41 > 0:38:44turbine, which will tower above the Berwickshire countryside.
0:38:46 > 0:38:48Well, that's it all away.
0:38:48 > 0:38:51The other officers have come back, escorted it down the road,
0:38:51 > 0:38:55so just gathered up all our equipment and we can go home.
0:38:57 > 0:39:01It's a shift that's lasted from two in the afternoon to almost two in
0:39:01 > 0:39:05the morning, and even for an A1 patrol officer,
0:39:05 > 0:39:06it's been a long day.
0:39:12 > 0:39:16As one wide load heads on its way a little later than planned,
0:39:16 > 0:39:17at the other end of the A1,
0:39:17 > 0:39:20another massive machine is getting ready for its big moment.
0:39:24 > 0:39:27At the Lord Mayor's Show in central London,
0:39:27 > 0:39:29it's crunch time for the pea viner.
0:39:29 > 0:39:33- Ready to rock.- Gary Creaser and Andrew Raith are flying the flag for
0:39:33 > 0:39:34British pea farmers...
0:39:36 > 0:39:40..by steering their huge 29-tonne machine through the narrow streets
0:39:40 > 0:39:42of the capital.
0:39:42 > 0:39:45Remember, no overtaking, Gary.
0:39:45 > 0:39:48- They never said that. - I'm sure they I did.
0:39:48 > 0:39:50I don't remember them saying it.
0:39:54 > 0:39:57Flanked by marching peas,
0:39:57 > 0:39:59they're on their way to join the main procession.
0:40:01 > 0:40:03From the military to charity fundraisers,
0:40:03 > 0:40:07they're amongst 7,000 who are parading for the Lord Mayor.
0:40:11 > 0:40:14And, as their pea viner thunders down Fleet Street...
0:40:14 > 0:40:15LAUGHTER
0:40:15 > 0:40:17..it's really catching people's eye.
0:40:17 > 0:40:21They're all looking, thinking, "What is it? What is it?"
0:40:21 > 0:40:23It's big, it's red, it's shiny, but what the hell is it?
0:40:26 > 0:40:31It's a strange experience to be driving a viner heading towards the
0:40:31 > 0:40:33Royal Courts of Justice and what have you.
0:40:33 > 0:40:35I've walked down this street many times.
0:40:35 > 0:40:38I never expected to be driving a pea viner down it.
0:40:40 > 0:40:41It's one way to see London, anyway.
0:40:44 > 0:40:47With hundreds of thousands of people coming out to cheer the procession
0:40:47 > 0:40:49on, it's a fantastic stage for Gary
0:40:49 > 0:40:52and Andrew to promote their produce...
0:40:52 > 0:40:54We should have just had some bags of frozen peas with others.
0:40:54 > 0:40:56We could've thrown them out the window.
0:40:56 > 0:40:58..which goes far beyond the humble pea.
0:41:00 > 0:41:01It is about great British food
0:41:01 > 0:41:04and to put a pea viner on the streets of London,
0:41:04 > 0:41:08if that helps in any way to sort of promote British food and farming,
0:41:08 > 0:41:10then great. It's good to be part of it.
0:41:11 > 0:41:16But the city streets were never designed for monster machines like
0:41:16 > 0:41:19this and the pea viner can simply go no further.
0:41:19 > 0:41:22- They're taking us off the course. - Follow that fella, there.
0:41:25 > 0:41:29With their part in the parade over, Gary and Andrew find a convenient
0:41:29 > 0:41:33spot to park up and watch the rest of the historic parade.
0:41:37 > 0:41:39- Absolute masterstroke to park that there.- Eh?
0:41:42 > 0:41:45You just cannot believe that that there...
0:41:45 > 0:41:48Amazing. Amazing.
0:41:48 > 0:41:50For these two peas in a pod,
0:41:50 > 0:41:54there's only one other vehicle that could upstage their viner today -
0:41:54 > 0:41:57the magnificent Lord Mayor's state coach.
0:41:57 > 0:41:59It's not something you see every day.
0:42:03 > 0:42:06With the parade marching off into the distance,
0:42:06 > 0:42:10it's over to lorry driver Alan Metheringham to reload and repeat
0:42:10 > 0:42:12the journey back up the A1...
0:42:15 > 0:42:20..leaving Andrew to reflect on an amazing day out.
0:42:20 > 0:42:22It couldn't have gone any better, really.
0:42:22 > 0:42:24Very smooth. Yeah, it's been good fun, enjoyed it.
0:42:24 > 0:42:26If we can just get it out of London now,
0:42:26 > 0:42:28everything's gone off really well.
0:42:39 > 0:42:42Thankfully for Andrew, his precious pea viner
0:42:42 > 0:42:44made its way safely up the A1,
0:42:44 > 0:42:47so it was easy-peasy, after all.
0:42:48 > 0:42:52Nicole's boyfriend came to the rescue and she's hoping she'll never
0:42:52 > 0:42:54get stranded on the A1 again.
0:42:54 > 0:42:59And Margaret's still hoping that bacon and eggs will one day
0:42:59 > 0:43:01land her her Lambo.
0:43:03 > 0:43:05Next time...
0:43:05 > 0:43:09A countryside crash leaves a biker fighting for his life...
0:43:09 > 0:43:11You're always thinking the worst with a motorcycle accident.
0:43:13 > 0:43:16..traffic officers come face-to-face with a lorry driver
0:43:16 > 0:43:17flouting the law...
0:43:17 > 0:43:19You can't stop on a hard shoulder of a motorway.
0:43:19 > 0:43:21I'm going to break the law, then.
0:43:21 > 0:43:25..and there's an unexpected truck stop for one deflated driver.
0:43:25 > 0:43:27In to the full. So we won't be going anywhere for a while.