Traffic standstill as lorries get stuck

FOR the second day running, an articulated lorry became jammed in a busy back road linking Torquay and Newton Abbot.

Both incidents, yesterday and on Wednesday, ground traffic to a standstill in the morning rush hour.

It is believed that both drivers had been following sat-nav instructions, but the St Marychurch Road between Barton and Milber, clearly states at both ends that vehicles heavier than 7.5 tonnes are banned.

Yesterday, a British-registered truck travelling towards Newton Abbot came to grief just outside Barton.

It was pushed in tight against the hedge, but on-coming, larger vehicles were unable to pass.

“It was ridiculous to see such a massive vehicle on that road, which is almost a lane in places, and to add to the problems, two cars had also broken down in both directions,” said one annoyed woman motorist.

On Wednesday, the trouble was caused by a lorry travelling towards Torquay.

PC Chris Lancaster, the South Devon traffic management and road casualty reduction officer, said following sat-navs directions was not an excuse for large lorries to use the road.

“Any driver who flouts the regulations will be prosecuted,” he said.