Thames Valley Police are cracking down on dangerously poor vehicles being driven to Southampton Port for export. Officers have stopped a wave of battered, unsafe cars and vans risking lives on Hampshire and Thames Valley roads.
Deadly Defects: What Police Found on the Roads
Recent roadside checks uncovered jaw-dropping defects, including:
- Severely worn or damaged tyres
- Overloaded and unsecured loads
- Faulty brakes and lighting systems
- Non-functional windscreen wipers
- Corroded chassis risking structural collapse
- Some vehicles so wrecked they shouldn’t have been on the road at all
Fury After Serious Crash Caused by Shocking Neglect
One dramatic case saw Tracey Hosker, 35, from Runcorn, hit the headlines. At Oxford Magistrates Court, Hosker pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving after her van’s brakes failed on the A34 near Botley. The van smashed into two parked cars, badly injuring the victims.
Hosker received a 22-month suspended jail term, a four-year driving ban, and a tough extended re-test to get back on the road.
Police Warn Exporters: No Excuses for Unsafe Vehicles
“Drivers and exporters must understand exemptions don’t mean immunity,” warned Sergeant Paul Diamond of the Joint Operations Commercial Vehicle Unit. “These unsafe vehicles pose huge risks to everyone on the road. We’re working hard to stop them before they reach the port.”
“If you have info on dodgy vehicles or road safety issues, call 101 or report online.”
Export vehicle owners are reminded: while some rules like MOT and road tax may be waived during export, basic road safety laws remain. Vehicles must be safe and roadworthy or else face serious consequences.
