Speeding HGV’s caught on A55

Speeding HGV’s were targeted over the weekend as part of our ongoing commitment to keeping the roads safe.

Following recent public concern regarding speeding HGV’s travelling through the current roadworks on the A55 at Tal y Bont near Bangor, officers from the Roads Policing Unit carried out an operation over the weekend.

A total of 13 drivers in foreign-registered vehicles were stopped and issued with Graduated Fixed Penalty Notices – meaning they had to pay ‘on the spot’ fines.

Due to the ongoing improvement works the carriageways have a reduced lane width on both the east and westbound carriageways and a temporary 40mph speed limit is in place in both directions.

PC Eifion Jones from the Commercial Vehicle Unit said: “Those drivers caught at the weekend chose to ignore the speed limit signage. The temporary limit is in place for the safety of the workforce and other road users.

“The consequences of speeding can be devastating, even more so if you are at the wheel of a HGV or other large vehicle. Unfortunately, experience has taught us that the inappropriate use of speed is a major factor in collisions that kill people or cause serious injury.

“Speed limits are there for a reason and should be obeyed. If you are travelling please make sure that you drive responsibly and with full consideration for the safety of everyone.

Checks were also carried out on other parts of the A55 including the 50mph zone in Colwyn Bay and Rhuallt Hill however no offences were detected.

Graduated Fixed Penalty Notices:

• Non UK drivers who commit offences in the UK are required to pay an immediate financial penalty deposit (‘deposit’), either equal to the fixed penalty amount, or a set figure of £300 per offence as a court financial deposit (‘court deposit’), if the offence is of a nature that it cannot be dealt with by way of a fixed penalty.
• Failure to pay a deposit will result in the vehicle being immobilised and recovered until payment is made. In such cases, significant additional charges including: an immobilisation release fee of £80; up to £350 recovery charge; and up to £35 per day storage charge, will apply. All charges must be paid in full before the vehicle can be released.
• Offenders from outside the UK who commit endorsable offences within the UK will have a driving record created within the UK and any penalty points accrued will be endorsed on that record. Offenders breaching the mandatory limit of penalty points will be disqualified from driving in the UK.