Police patrol M6 to stop summer crash spike

11 hours agoLiz Copper

BBC Midlands Today

BBC News, West Midlands

Motorway patrols have taken place along the M6 to try to tackle a summer spike in crashes.

The operation near junction 13 in Staffordshire on Wednesday saw five police forces involved and targeted drivers carrying abnormal loads or at risk of causing accidents.

Insp Chris Moss, from Staffordshire Police, said the roads were particularly busy in the summer months with an increase in both haulage and holidaymakers.

"The days are brighter, they're longer so you've got more opportunity for people to get out on the roads and for hauliers to be moving heavy loads as well," he said.

Officers from the Midlands and the north-west teamed up for Operation Spotlight, working with officers from other highways authorities.

Motorists suspected of breaking the law were pulled over to be questioned and their vehicles examined.

James Scorgie's lorry was pulled over but, after checks, both vehicle and its 40-tonne load were found to be fully compliant and the driver said he welcomed the action.

"If this machine fell off and landed on a car, people aren't going home at the end of the day.

This way it just means that we all run safely," he said.

The action was part of a national police campaign to tackle the so-called fatal four causes of road crashes: Speeding, driving under the influence of drink and drugs, not wearing a seatbelt and using a mobile phone.