Multi agency operation in Southend-on-Sea

Road policing officers are reminding drivers about the importance of MOTs after a number of vehicles were found not to have valid certificates during a road policing operation in Southend yesterday (Wednesday, June 1, 2016)

Officers from the Casualty Reduction Unit worked alongside colleagues from the Safer Essex Roads Partnership during the operation which aimed to detect offenders using the roads and increase road safety. Automatic Number Plate Recognition technology (ANPR) was used to identify suspect vehicles which were then intercepted and taken to stop-check sites on the A127 at the junction with Nestuda Way and Chalkwell Esplanade.

During the operation, 11 vehicles were found not to have a valid MOT. Their drivers were issued fixed penalty notices and will have to pay a £100 fine. Twenty-five drivers were dealt with for using their mobile phone and 30 people were spotted not wearing a seatbelt. Two vehicles were seized because their drivers didn’t have appropriate insurance.

A total of 16 drivers were caught speeding and two failed to stop at a red traffic signal. One driver was dealt with for careless driving and another for not being in proper control of their vehicle. One vehicle was also found to have illegal tints on the windows which had to be removed before they could continue their journey. Two drivers were fined. The first will have to pay a £300 fine because the vehicle in which they were travelling was over the legal weight limit and the second, a lorry driver, was fined £50 because they failed to provide a Certificate of Professional Competency. By law all professional lorry drivers must carry this with them while at work.

Sgt Dave Rudd from the Casualty Reduction Unit said: “We run this road safety operation at various locations across the county on a regular basis and each time we deal with high numbers of drivers whose vehicles do not have valid MOTs. “MOTs are extremely important as they help to ensure the safety of a vehicle for the driver, their passengers and other road users. However many people fail to realise that their MOT has expired. Please remember to check when your vehicle’s MOT is next due. Many MOT testing stations will send you a reminder for a small fee or why not put a reminder in your phone?”