Police reveal results from annual operation to target insecure loads

A police operation to target vehicles with insecure loads and saves lives on our roads is proving progressively successful.

For the third year running, forces participating in Operation Rule have recorded a reduction in the number of commercial vehicles requiring intervention nationally.

These are the statistics taken from the dedicated day of action from the past three years:

Sussex Police recorded the highest number of stops of all forces (26) during the day of action held on the A23 at Handcross on 8 September this year.

PC Barry Freeman, of the Sussex Police Commercial Vehicle Unit, said: “While this is a fairly small sample size, it shows that people are paying attention to our message, they are taking action and they are making a responsible decision.

“Checking your vehicle to ensure it is secure before you set off on every journey is a tiny task which can make a massive difference to protecting all road users.

“We only have to look at the case of 11-year-old Harry Dennis, who was tragically killed after being struck by an insecure scaffold plank which fell from a moving vehicle in Hooe, East Sussex, in 2022.

“His mother Maria approached us and asked if she could get involved in any way to help prevent incidents like this happening to anyone else, and she has been the inspiration behind this operation really.”

Maria has travelled the length of the country to attend numerous conferences, presentations and workshops as she continues to campaign for change and promote load safety.

PC Freeman added: “The result of this most recent operation demonstrates that while over a half of commercial vehicles stopped were compliant, a significant proportion required enforcement action or advice. The main offenders were unsecured scaffolding equipment, loose pallets and building materials, vehicles carrying too much weight and excessive driver hours.

“These results reinforce the importance of continued roadside enforcement and engagement with the industry to improve load security standards.”