Operation
Velopy Aims to Make Caravaning Safer
Police
will be helping to make the Midlands‚ road network safer in an operation
aimed at reducing the number of caravan-related accidents on the motorway
this Friday (25th July 2008).
Operation Velopy is being run by the Central Motorway Police Group (CMPG)
and the Highways Agency, with help from the Caravan Club and the Vehicle
and Operator Services Agency (VSOA).
A team of officers from all agencies will be on hand on the southbound
Strensham service area on the M5 motorway this Friday (25th July 2008)
between 9am and 5.30pm to offer help and advice to caravan owners.
The aim of the operation is to educate drivers about safely towing caravans,
the one on Friday will be third one to take place this summer.
Every year there are accidents on the motorway involving caravans. Many
of these can be attributed to simple things that drivers are simply not
aware they are doing incorrectly.
Sergeant Dean Caswell, who has helped organise the operation, said: 'The
advice will be given to drivers on a voluntary basis, but I would urge
anybody in the area to take advantage of this initiative.
'Often drivers set up the towing outfit incorrectly, which makes the caravan
unstable and increases the likelihood of a collision.
'When this is coupled with driver error, the potential for collision is
drastically increased. The advice we are giving out will help to eliminate
these problems and have a positive impact on reducing the number of collisions
involving caravans.'
Jenny Moten, regional operations manager for Highways Agency, added: 'Highways
Agency Traffic Officers work in close partnership with CMPG to deal with
many towing-related incidents on West Midlands‚ motorways - over
1,070 last year alone.
'To show our strong support for this operation, we've arranged for some
the large matrix messaging signs on the southbound carriageway of the
M5 in the West Midlands to remind drivers to take extra care while towing.
'Traffic officers will also be giving way copies of 'Fit to Tow' a new
DVD developed by the Highways Agency. It features practical demonstrations
on how to correctly attach your trailer or caravan, how to maintain it
and what to check for to ensure it is safe to tow before you go.'
CMPG is made up of officers from West Mercia Constabulary, West Midlands
Police and Staffordshire Police.
The Central Motorway Police Group is staffed by some 140 police officers
from the three forces and is responsible for delivering a dedicated policing
service for the three force areas, stretching south from Cheshire on the
M6 to the Welsh borders on the M50. The officers parade from three bases
around the region.
