Again today BBC midlands news has put on a clip about the bank holiday caravan check at Stensham services on the M5.
On the day it was being conducted, the news team showed a reporter talking to a policeman at the sceene who said that they had found one caravan 33% overweight and another with the wheels fitted reverse way round on the axle. At the time I got the impression that they found the vast majority of caravans to be roadworthy.
Now today the same program reports that there were several caravans 33% overweight and that some had their rear headlights not working !!??
For a start I do wish that first of all the news casters would get their facts right and actually describe the situation accurately. The police reported one vehicle for being 33% overloaded. They found some with rear lights not working and some with tyres that were not correct or in good enough condition for use.
What started out as a road safety campaign has now turned into a mis-reported saga that betrays caravanners as irresponsible people, which I'm quite sure 99% of are NOT.
As a caravanner, truck driver and tower of large trailers I have encouraged people to seek advice from the likes of VOSA and other reputable organisations, as it has been my experiance that on the whole, they would rather educate than prosecute.
I realy do wish that news programs would leave out the drama and stick to fact.
It would be most interesting to hear from any of you that were pulled into strensham. Your accounts of what went on would no doubt be enlightening to the novices out there.
Regards
Steve L.
On the day it was being conducted, the news team showed a reporter talking to a policeman at the sceene who said that they had found one caravan 33% overweight and another with the wheels fitted reverse way round on the axle. At the time I got the impression that they found the vast majority of caravans to be roadworthy.
Now today the same program reports that there were several caravans 33% overweight and that some had their rear headlights not working !!??
For a start I do wish that first of all the news casters would get their facts right and actually describe the situation accurately. The police reported one vehicle for being 33% overloaded. They found some with rear lights not working and some with tyres that were not correct or in good enough condition for use.
What started out as a road safety campaign has now turned into a mis-reported saga that betrays caravanners as irresponsible people, which I'm quite sure 99% of are NOT.
As a caravanner, truck driver and tower of large trailers I have encouraged people to seek advice from the likes of VOSA and other reputable organisations, as it has been my experiance that on the whole, they would rather educate than prosecute.
I realy do wish that news programs would leave out the drama and stick to fact.
It would be most interesting to hear from any of you that were pulled into strensham. Your accounts of what went on would no doubt be enlightening to the novices out there.
Regards
Steve L.