Block buster busted

A MOSSLEY van driver who breached a motorway road block was fined almost £600.

Derek Carley (51), of Stablefold, became the second driver in Tameside to be prosecuted for ignoring Highways Agency officers’ directions, after breaking a rolling road block on the M60.

In August last year, officers put on an M60 rolling road block between junctions 22 Hollinwood and 23 near Ashton to help colleagues recover debris from the outside lane.

Advisory 50 mph signs had been posted to warn drivers of the danger.

But the road block was breached almost immediately by a van driven by Carley.

Officers subsequently reported the vehicle’s registration to Greater Manchester Police, and the driver was summonsed.

He appeared at Tameside Magistrates’ Court and was fined £585 and had three penalty points added to his driving licence.

The size of the fine, and the imposition of penalty points, reflected the seriousness and potential danger of Carley’s actions.

David Grunwell, North-West divisional director, said: “We take the safety of our road workers and traffic officers very seriously.

“In this case two people working on the motorway, attempting to recover potentially dangerous debris, were put at risk by a driver breaching a rolling road block.

“We hope the conviction will remind drivers that it is an offence to ignore the instructions of our officers.

Mr Grunwell said rolling road blocks were only ever used sparingly and in this case it was to enable the recovery of a lorry strap from the outside lane of the busy motorway.

He said: “Lorry straps have large steel buckles which can cause drivers to brake or swerve to avoid them and can cause damage and injuries if struck.

“We would like to thank Greater Manchester Police for pursuing this prosecution.”