Operation Mermaid – part of a national operation to improve commercial vehicle safety – took place in the second week of June at the Borehamwood Services.  An almost astounding 253 drivers’ hours offences were discovered over the 2 day period.

TruckUK‘s Steve Williams – the oracle of all things compliance – told Tachoblog that ‘the type of offences detected included failing to take a daily rest period, driving while using a mobile phone, overweight and overlength vehicles and using a vehicle in a dangerous condition.’

truckuk8 427x73

Now click below for more on Operation Mermaid…

‘The vehicle found to be in a dangerous condition was Polish registered, with two broken wheel studs and lost nuts from a blowout the driver stated took place in Holland.

‘The driver said that he was intending to drive back to Poland for repairs! VOSA put an immediate prohibition on it. This was one of ten defective vehicles that received immediate or delayed prohibitions.’

A further operation – Operation Mink – took place during the same week as Operation Mermaid but in Chelmsford.

Police, trading standards and road safety officers took part in this operation and 37 fixed penalties were issued for failure to wear a seatbelt and three for mobile phone use.