Police bus operation uncovers numerous safety issues

A road safety operation aimed at passenger vehicles in Devon and Cornwall has resulted in 20 offences being uncovered by officers.

Op Coachman is the first in a series of operations conducted by Devon & Cornwall Police’s Road Casualty Reduction team, alongside partners from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVLA) and the Force’s Commercial Vehicle Unit (CVU).

Last week officers based at the Moto Services in Exeter conducted high-visibility checks on 27 passenger vehicles including coaches, minibuses and private vehicles.

As a result of the operation, officers issued:

• 5 x fixed penalties for offences around driver’s hours
• 1 x minibus was prohibited for a dangerous fuel leak
• 6 x delayed prohibitions for engine faults and tacho offences
• 2 x reports for tachograph offences
• 2 x warnings for seatbelt misuse  
• 1 x prohibition notice for no tachograph, index plates or ring guards.
• 1 x report for no insurance
• 1 x report for two bald tyres
• 1 x warning for tinted window offences

Chief Inspector Simon Jenkinson of the Alliance Roads Policing team said: “Road safety is a shared responsibility between all road users – and that includes passenger vehicles such as buses, coaches and minibuses.

“It’s vital these large vehicles – which are capable of incredible damage – are driven in accordance with the law and kept in a good roadworthy state for the sake of the drivers, passengers and all other road users.

“We will be conducting similar operations throughout the year so I would urge any operators of such vehicles to ensure they are compliant.

“I’d like to thank those from the DVSA and CVU who assisted with this operation. Their excellent knowledge and guidance was critical to its success.”

Natalie Warr, partnership manager for the Vision Zero South West road safety partnership, added: “Everyone has a role to play when it comes to road safety, not least those using the roads in a commercial capacity and carrying numerous passengers.

“As a partnership we are committed to reducing the number of people killed and seriously injured on Devon and Cornwall’s roads. The condition of vehicles and their drivers are vital in achieving this goal and we are fully supportive of our partner’s efforts in this area.”

For more information on the laws around driver hours visit: Drivers’ hours: Buses, coaches and minibuses – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)