ESSEX Police’s Commercial Vehicle Unit (CVU) continues its vital work to keep our roads safe by engaging directly with professional drivers and enforcing compliance on the county’s strategic road network.
Sergeant Jason Dearsley, who leads the CVU, said: “Through targeted patrols, roadside checks, and industry engagement, the Commercial Vehicle Unit ensures compliance and promotes safer roads for all.
“Commercial drivers are often a hard-to-reach community because of their work commitments, that’s why we go to them, and meet them at service stations where we can check on their welfare and listen to their concerns.
“During our conversations we highlight the importance of keeping safe through taking regular breaks, getting sufficient rest and ensuring their vehicles are safe to drive.
“With larger, more powerful vehicles comes greater responsibility and poorly maintained vehicles and fatigue can lead to collisions.”
The specialist officers also support drivers and promote good mental health and wellbeing by signposting them to the charity Shout which has a free, confidential and 24/7 text messaging service for anyone who needs support. Funding to support this activity is provide by National Highways as part of their commitment to delivering safer and more reliable journeys.
The CVU regularly conduct operations at service stations and roadside checkpoints and are part of the wider roads policing team: their priority is to protect all road users by enforcing the law and educating operators on safe practices. Their work forms part of Essex Police’s commitment to Vision Zero, the ambition to eliminate road deaths in Essex by 2040 or sooner.
CVU officers are trained as HGV vehicle examiners and transport managers, enabling them to identify mechanical defects and enforce weight regulations.
On Monday, 8 December, CVU officers carried out proactive checks at a service station in the west of the county, meeting lorry and van drivers to ensure vehicles were roadworthy and drivers were operating within the law and industry regulations. These checks included:
- Verifying driver hours
- Inspecting vehicles for defects and safety compliance
- Issuing visibility aids to help drivers see blind spots
- Educating drivers on safe loading and legal weight limits
- Checking for correct documents held for the driver and the vehicle
During the operation, officers discovered a van overloaded by 69% above its permitted weight. Using mobile scales, the team confirmed the dangerous excess load, which posed a serious risk to road safety.
Overloading compromises braking efficiency, increases stopping distances, and places extreme stress on tyres and suspension – raising the likelihood of catastrophic failure and collisions.
Overloading is also illegal and can result in fines, prohibition notices, or vehicle seizure and insurance cover is void when a vehicle is overloaded.
The vehicle in question was prohibited from continuing its journey.
A second van was seized after checks revealed it was uninsured.
The CVU sergeant added: “We’ll continue to engage with the commercial sector to ensure businesses run as smoothly as possible during the festive season, and that everyone who uses our roads can do so safely.”
For more information about SHOUT, visit Get help – free, 24/7, confidential mental health text support service | Shout 85258.
The helpline can be contacted on text number 85258.
