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Police check finds 100% of farm vehicles to be defective

Johann Tasker 24 August 2018
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© Tim Scrivener© Tim Scrivener

Police have voiced dismay after every farm vehicle stopped for safety checks was found to be defective.

Officers from East Hertfordshire carried out the roadside checks with Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire roads policing unit on Thursday (23 August).

See also: 7 ways to drive your farm vehicle safely and legally

The aim was to monitor the roadworthiness and condition of agricultural vehicles at a time of year when many tractors and farm implements are on the public highway.

Vehicles stopped were parked at the roadside.

Photos of the operation were tweeted by East Herts Rural Police.

“Sadly all vehicles stopped had defects of varying severity,” said police.

Two of the vehicles had defects that resulted in them being escorted off the carriageway to a nearby field to await the services of a qualified engineer.

“We weren’t dealing with badly driven vehicles, we are dealing with badly maintained vehicles,” the police added.

The operation met a mixed reaction – with some people welcoming the checks and others suggesting police should focus on catching thieves who steal from farms.

Others were more outspoken.

But Hertfordshire farmer Jamie Burrows said critics should consider the bigger picture.

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