Foreign lorry drivers targeted in A41 Whitchurch crackdown

Foreign lorry drivers flouting the rules of the road were successfully targeted in a major road safety operation along one of Shropshire's busiest routes, officials said today.

Seven lorry drivers were caught speeding along the A41 south of Whitchurch during the sting roadside operation by West Mercia Safer Roads Partnership and West Mercia Police.

Other motoring offences were also detected including defective vehicles and one driver who surrendered his licence on medical grounds.

Officials said the A41 was targeted in response to concerns from road users and because the road is such a vital distribution link between the West Midlands and the ferry port at Holyhead, which connects to Ireland.

The crackdown was also designed to address the high number of collisions along the road.

The seven foreign lorry drivers caught speeding were given roadside fixed penalty notices for exceeding the speed limit.

Rod Reynolds, from the Safer Roads Partnership in West Mercia, hailed the operation as a big success.

He said: "We have received concerns about the speeds of some of the heavy goods vehicles using the A41 in the county.

"We supported the Force Operations Support Team at West Mercia Police in this operation by providing speed detection equipment.

"West Mercia Police were then able to issue graduated fixed penalty notices and process the fines on the roadside. "It sends the clear message to drivers of large foreign vehicles to comply with the speed limit on the A41."

Inspector Glenn Cowley, of the Force Operations Support Team at West Mercia Police, said: "Due to the high number of road traffic collisions on the A41, it has been identified as a targeted activity route resulting in an increase in high visibility policing."

The A41 enters Shropshire just north of Whitchurch and heads through Tern Hill and Newport before leaving the county near Albrighton.

The operation was carried out on March 17 and the results made public today.

By Tom Johannsen