National week long operation targeting commercial vehicles

Commercial vehicles breaking the law are the target of a week-long operation aimed at reducing the number of killed or seriously injured on the county’s roads.

The National Police Chief Council’s Commercial Vehicle Week started on Monday 11 October 2021.

Officers from Kent Police’s Roads Policing Unit will work with partner agencies including the Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) and National Highways to tackle issues such as load security, carriage of dangerous goods, as well as looking for offences relating to the fatal 4; driving under the influence, speeding, not wearing a seatbelt and distracted driving.

Officers will be conducting static road checks at various locations around the county as well as checking for offences during normal patrols.

Chief Inspector Elena Hall, head of the Roads Policing Unit said: ‘There is no excuse for sending dangerous vehicles onto the road network and putting people at risk.

‘Specially trained Commercial Vehicle officers from within our Roads Safety Unit, regularly patrol the motorways and other key roads to ensure goods vehicles are safe and fit for the roads.

‘We will use this operation to advise and educate commercial vehicle drivers but appropriate enforcement action will be taken where individuals and companies are found to have recklessly broken the law.’