Police targeting lorry and coach drivers throughout May

Local police are running an operation

throughout May targeting goods vehicles and coaches looking at drivers’ hours

(tachograph) offences and carriage of dangerous goods (HAZMAT) offences.

“Operation Fatigue” will target drivers’ hours offences,

tachograph falsification and hazardous materials offences.

A police spokesman said: “Department for Transport (DfT)

research shows that LGVs account for around 3% of traffic flow in Devon, yet 9%

of fatal collisions in the research period involved an LGV. 

“Two thirds of those LGVs involved were

deemed as blameworthy in these collisions. This trend is echoed in serious

injury collisions, where LGVs accounted for 6% of such collisions on motorways

and 11% on trunk roads. On serious motorway collisions involving LGVs, the

blameworthy vehicle was without exception the LGV.”

Police aim to increase the

current level of enforcement on local roads with the intention of contributing

to casualty reduction. 

A previous similar operation was carried out in November,

when a total of 386 vehicles were stopped, with 124 offences being dealt with.

Ten officers will be dedicated to the operation. All

have been trained in tachograph examination and carriage of hazardous

materials.