A dangerous vehicle was seized and the driver reported by Durham Police after shocked officers found over 20 faults including a shredded tyre.

The load was also being held in by one measly screw and child in the cab without a booster seat.

It was one of several vehicles stopped as part of a joint operation between Durham Constabulary and National Highways: North-East to support Project EDWARD - Every Day Without A Road Death, the national campaign that aims to educate drivers around road safety.

Officers from the force’s Durham Roads & Armed Policing Unit also handed out tickets for drivers not wearing their seatbelts, one of the Fatal 4 offences that sees people killed unnecessarily on the region’s roads every year.

The Northern Echo: The load was not secured safelyThe load was not secured safely (Image: Durham Constabulary/Facebook)

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Strategic Roads Policing Inspector Kev Salter of Durham Police said: “Project EDWARD is about preventing road deaths and one of the major factors in achieving that goal is changing drivers’ behaviours and attitudes towards the Fatal 4.

“Whether you’ve just passed your driving test or you’ve been driving for decades, avoidable collisions can and do happen.

“All too often we end up knocking on someone’s door to tell them their loved ones have died in a collision – it’s one of the hardest things we have to do.

“Our message is simple: don’t get complacent behind the wheel and help us make sure we don’t have to visit to your loved ones.”

The Northern Echo: The load was secured with just one screwThe load was secured with just one screw (Image: Durham Constabulary/Facebook)

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Setting up base at Bowburn Services, National Highways officers and representatives from Project EDWARD were also on hand to talk to drivers and give advice on a range of safety issues and handing out goody bags to youngsters.

The Northern Echo: A joint operation between Durham Constabulary and National Highways: North-East to support Project EDWARD - Every Day Without A Road Death A joint operation between Durham Constabulary and National Highways: North-East to support Project EDWARD - Every Day Without A Road Death (Image: Durham Constabulary/Facebook)

National Highways Regional Safety Programme Manager Sarah Watson-Quirk said: “Safety is always our highest priority at National Highways, and Project EDWARD is a very important campaign helping us to tackle dangerous driving and discourage people from taking unnecessary risks that put themselves and others in danger.

“Not wearing a seat belt, for example, or using mobile phones while in control of a vehicle are dangerous and the number of people caught doing this through Operation Tramline is still too high.

“We’re proud to unite with Durham Police and other forces across the country to engage with drivers on the A1, raise awareness of Project EDWARD and encourage motorists to consider their driving behaviour.”

The Northern Echo: The van being seized by policeThe van being seized by police (Image: Durham Constabulary/Facebook)

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