Dangerously overloaded vans leaving New Spitalfields Market taken off the road
Vehicles overloaded and in bad shape have been taken off the roads at New Spitalfields Market near Hackney Wick and Stratford. - Credit: DVSA
Dangerously overloaded vehicles have been taken off the road in Hackney as part of north London operations conducted by the Drivers and Vehicles Standards Agency (DVSA).
Operation Lemon was held on July 20 at new Spitalfields Market near Hackney Wick and Stratford at 4am alongside the Metropolitan Police.
DVSA intelligence had led examiners to suspect that vehicles leaving the wholesale fruit and vegetable market would be overloaded.
Examiners checked a total of 14 vehicles and found that five vehicles were overweight. Seven were taken off the road immediately due to mechanical issues including lights, tyres and steering.
Joint operations in Hackney and at London Gateway services in Edgeware in July saw the DVSA successfully remove 31 defective and dangerous vans.
Examiners found 14 overloaded vehicles with one over two tonnes overweight, loaded with tree stumps and tools.
The driver was also found to be driving under the influence of drugs and was arrested by the Met Police.
Most Read
- 1 Cyclist in hospital after lorry collision in Whitechapel
- 2 Cycle paths joined up in Aldgate creates 'safe route' through east London
- 3 Flats under construction in Hackney Wick to be knocked down and rebuilt
- 4 Cyclist in 'critical but stable' condition after Whitechapel lorry crash
- 5 Section 60 in place across Tower Hamlets after Stepney stabbing
- 6 Thunderstorms to hit London this evening warns Met Office
- 7 Whitechapel nun pens book of 12 stories to inspire selflessness in society
- 8 12 stolen phones recovered after stop and search in Hackney
- 9 Mile End: Car crashes into bus stop during police pursuit
- 10 'A horrific attack': Man suffers critical head injuries from Shoreditch fight
DVSA targeting of overloaded light goods vehicles (LGVs) has seen the issue become the most common offence for prosecution over the past five years.
Overloading compromises the stability, steering and braking capability of a vehicle. This means the vehicle will behave differently on the road, posing a danger to the driver and other road users.
In both the Hackney and Edgeware operations any vehicles taken off the road by DVSA were immobilised until the mechanical issues were fixed and any additional weight had been removed.
Head of enforcement delivery at DVSA Laura Great-Rex said: “Once again it is disappointing to conduct another operation which has found delivery vans that were a danger to other road users due to being overloaded and in a poor condition.
“Delivery companies and their drivers have a responsibility for making sure their vehicles are in a good roadworthy condition at the start of every journey and we accept no excuses."
Inspector Richard Wenham, Met Police Roads and Transport Policing Command, said:
“The Met’s Commercial Vehicle Unit was pleased to lend its expertise to DVSA colleagues with this operation as part of a multi-agency approach to road safety."