HGV stopped in Caversham after near-miss and multiple offences uncovered
Police in Reading have charged a lorry driver with a string of offences after stopping an HGV on Henley Road, Caversham, on Friday 31 July. Officers say the intervention followed a near-miss with a pedestrian and revealed the driver was heavily over the drink-drive limit and watching a music video on his phone while driving.
Thames Valley Police said checks at the roadside also exposed a catalogue of regulatory failures. The vehicle had no MOT, no insurance and did not display an operator's licence. Officers found the driver was not wearing his seatbelt correctly, had not inserted a driver card into the tachograph and did not hold a valid UK driving licence.
At the roadside the driver recorded an initial breathalyser reading of 104 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath, nearly three times the legal limit. The force said that almost two hours later, while in custody, the driver still returned a reading of 97 micrograms.
"104 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath"
Police confirmed the driver has been charged with eight offences, including drink-driving and careless driving. Because he has no fixed UK address and given the seriousness of the allegations, he was remanded in custody to appear before a magistrates' court. Thames Valley Police have also referred the matter to the Traffic Commissioner after finding no operator's licence displayed on the vehicle.
Immediate safety risks and wider regulatory concerns
For Reading residents and road users, the case highlights two intertwined issues: immediate danger on busy suburban streets and potential wider lapses in commercial vehicle oversight. The reported near-miss — a pedestrian stepping back from a crossing at the last moment — underlines the risk posed when drivers are impaired and distracted, especially in areas where pedestrians and cyclists share space with heavy goods vehicles.
- Public-safety: A pedestrian narrowly avoided a collision when the HGV approached a crossing.
- Driver conduct: Police allege the driver was watching a music video while driving and was not wearing a seatbelt correctly.
- Regulatory failures: No MOT, no insurance, missing operator licence display and no driver card in the tachograph.
The discovery that the driver had not passed a UK driving test raises particular concern for residents who travel on routes used by heavy vehicles. Tachograph requirements, operator licences and insurance checks are designed to reduce the risk posed by commercial traffic; when multiple safeguards fail simultaneously the consequences can be severe.
Recorded readings and legal thresholds
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Initial roadside breathalyser | 104 micrograms/100ml |
| Reading in custody (nearly two hours later) | 97 micrograms/100ml |
| Legal limit for breath (UK) | 35 micrograms/100ml |
Those figures place the driver well above the statutory limit for breath alcohol concentration in the UK for drivers of all vehicles. Police breath-test results can be used as evidence in court proceedings and will form part of the prosecution case.
Thames Valley Police's referral to the Traffic Commissioner signals possible regulatory action against whoever operated the vehicle. That office can investigate operator compliance, impose sanctions or remove operating licences where standards are not met.
Local impact and what to watch for
Commuters and residents in Reading should expect the case to progress through the courts in due course; the driver has been remanded to appear before a magistrates' court. The incident may also prompt targeted enforcement in the area by police and transport regulators, particularly on routes used by heavy goods vehicles.
Any further updates from Thames Valley Police or the Traffic Commissioner will be relevant to local campaigners and community safety groups concerned about pedestrian risk and commercial vehicle standards in the town. For now, officers have emphasised the seriousness of the allegations and the steps taken to remove an immediate danger from the road.
This is a developing legal matter and the charges against the driver will be tested in court.
