Operation Chemical: HGV drivers carrying dangerous goods given warning following safety and compliance operation

Running between Tuesday 5 May and Friday 22 May, officers from the Constabulary’s Commercial Vehicle Unit (CVU) took part in Operation Chemical.

The nationally run operation, which was overseen by partner colleagues from the Carriage of Dangerous Goods Practitioners Forum (CDGPF), was launched to ensure that vehicles transporting substances that could pose a serious risk to the public are doing so safely.

Positioning themselves on motorways and the busiest road networks across Cheshire, CVU officers stopped numerous transportation units from all over the world throughout the campaign. The units themselves, their drivers, and their companies were then assessed for relevant compliance and safety checks.

Unfortunately, approximately 75% of the 15 vehicles checked were found to be in breach of safety regulations, meaning they posed a serious risk to other road users, the public, and the drivers themselves.

During a vehicle inspection in Sandbach, officers inspected a Spanish-registered heavy goods vehicle that was carrying a large quantity of dangerous goods from Manchester to Spain.

Compliance checks revealed that the driver had not received any training on how to transport the dangerous goods safely prior to beginning his journey and that he did not hold a licence to operate the vehicle while carrying them. The driver was subsequently prohibited from continuing his journey.

Another incident required CVU officers to attend the scene on the A556 in Davenham following reports of an acid leak. The vehicle in question had been displaying signage indicating that volatile substances were being carried; as a result, a large-scale emergency response was deployed to the scene.

However, it was quickly ascertained that the vehicle had not been leaking acid but that its fuel tank had ruptured, causing diesel to spread onto the carriageway. The driver claimed he had forgotten to remove the signage from a previous delivery.

This meant that the emergency service response was ultimately unnecessary and that residents in the area were unduly disrupted.

Dangerous Goods Safety Advisor Police Constable Aiden Sharrock, of the Commercial Goods Unit, said:

“It was very alarming to see such a high number of commercial and heavy goods vehicle drivers not adhering to the laws and regulations designed to keep them, other motorists, and the public safe, especially given the hazardous materials they were carrying.

“It is for exactly this reason that the Commercial Goods Unit, which has recently celebrated its first anniversary of operations in Cheshire, conducts deployments such as this to ensure those operating on our roads are doing so safely - and taking action against those who do not.

“We’ll continue doing everything we can to ensure hauliers and the public drive safely. This operation should make one thing clear: we will act, without hesitation, against anyone who chooses to ignore road laws and put others at risk.”