The transport authorities are urging residents of Northamptonshire’s farming community to check their cars for operational suitability before using the county’s roadways.
Following the conviction of a 22-year-old farmer who towed a trailer with several flaws through Crick, officers from the Safer Roads Team have issued the timely warning.
Northamptonshire Police stopped Robert Greenaway of Rugby Road, Crick, as he drove a large JCB digger on a trailer through the hamlet in October, which has a weight limit of 7.5 tonnes.
The tractor and loaded trailer were taken to the Crick weighbridge at Northamptonshire Police, where they were inspected by Northamptonshire Police and DVSA officials and weighed 33 tonnes.
Aside from being more than four times above the permitted weight for that route, the trailer also had ten critical flaws, including an unsafe load, illegal tires, and no rear lights.
Later, Greenaway was charged with recklessly operating a New Holland Tractor on a trailer that was in poor condition.
On April 22, the driver pled guilty to the crime at Northampton Magistrates’ Court and was sentenced to a 12-month disqualification with the requirement to pass an extended test and ordered to pay £523 in fines and costs.
News Credit: Dangerous trailer leads to driving disqualification for farmer