ELV recycler Sims Group last week hosted a victim of a hit and run accident at its Newport treatment facility as part of a publicity campaign being developed by London councils and the police.
” With a quarter of motorists failing to stop after a collision, it is vital that serious action continues to be taken “
– Derek Campbell, Sims
The company has been handling uninsured vehicles picked up in north London and one of the cars picked up by the scheme was crushed in front of crash victim Amy Verlander.
On September 2 2006 Ms Verlander was knocked down by a hit and run driver in Hackney, the driver was also uninsured.
Operation Foist
Due to this incident and many like it in Hackney, Haringey and Newham – Transport for London and the Metropolitan Police have joined forces to run “Operation Foist”, which will see a major clamp-down on uninsured drivers.
The campaign, which was launched at the end of October 2006, has already seen 1,320 uninsured cars seized by the police.
Many of these cars are taken by Sims Group for de-polluting under the End of Life Vehicle Directive, before shredding them. Metal from the vehicle often goes back into making new cars.
Derek Campbell from Sims' Recycleyourcar.co.uk website, said: “With a quarter of motorists failing to stop after a collision, it is vital that serious action – such as the successful initiative in Haringey, Hackney and Newham – continues to be taken.
“We hope that such initiatives can be replicated throughout the country, to drastically reduce the likelihood of other people going through the life shattering experience of Amy Verlander,” he added.
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