DRIVERS were surprised to find their vehicles being checked by police yesterday as part of a clampdown on unroadworthy vehicles.
The operation came just hours after a double fatal crash nearby, in which two men, aged 31 and 27, died when their car collided with a tree in Wyke.
Police were stopping drivers on Huddersfield Road, Brighouse, just along the road from the tragic crash scene, in a pre-planned operation between police, the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency and Calderdale Council’s licensing department.
Sgt Dean Maddocks, of Brighouse police, said: “It was a multi-agency operation to target criminality on the roads, gathering intelligence and taking action against road traffic offences.
“There was a fatal road traffic collision just up the road last night and while the reason for that is not yet known, it’s a reminder that we’ve got some cars on the road that need to be checked and taken off the road.”
And quickly police officers found drivers on mobile phones, not wearing seatbelts and driving without insurance. Others failed to have wing mirrors or had defects to their vehicles.
Sgt Maddocks added: “We were also checking commercial vehicles and vans and looking for potential stolen scrap metal.
“Before the operation began we got a report of a suspicious van in Brighouse and it turned out to be people stealing metal.”
The operation, between Brighouse Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) and Wyke NPT also included Calderdale Council’s licensing department.
They were checking taxi drivers to ensure they had relevant insurance, a first aid kit and fire extinguisher in the cars, as required by the council.
Within two hours of the early-morning operation, police officers pulled over around 20 vehicles and 10 taxis. Some they suspected were talking on their mobile phones.
Another man didn’t know if he was insured to drive his company vehicle.
It turned out he wasn’t and the van’s owner had broken his leg, so it meant police seized his car and it will be held until the owner can collect it or the driver is insured.
“People are putting themselves and others at risk,” Sgt Maddocks added.
“High-visibility operations like this let people know that we are watching out for road offences to protect the public.”
A Huddersfield man was given a £60 fine for not wearing a seatbelt. It was an unlucky day for him – he didn’t have a driver’s side wing mirror either. He also had some poor excuses when questioned by officers, telling them that the mirror had been stolen and that he forgot to get it fixed.
He was handed a notice telling him to get it repaired or face prosecution.
Police are still seeking witnesses of the crash in which two men were killed when their car smashed into the tree.
Christopher and Sam Blowman died in the smash on the A641 Woodside Road in Wyke, part of the main Huddersfield to Bradford road, at 11.41pm on Tuesday.
Police closed the Woodside Road junction with Huddersfield Road yesterday as part of their investigation.
Witnesses are asked to contact the Major Collision and Enquiry Team on the non emergency number 101.
