HGV drivers fined after breaching weight restrictions in West Berkshire

Two heavy goods vehicle drivers have been fined after breaching weight restrictions in West Berkshire.

In July 2024, Reading Magistrates’ Court heard that a member of the public observed an HGVs travel through the weight restriction on Church Lane in Aldermaston while exceeding the weight limit.

The maximum weight limit for the road is 7.5 tonnes, but the vehicle’s gross weight was 18 tonnes.

On the same day a second HGV was also observed by a member of the public on the same road, exceeding the weight limit by driving a vehicle of 18 tonnes.

Both drivers pleaded guilty and the cases were heard in court on May 23, 2025.

In the first case, the driver was fined £176, ordered to pay £180 contribution towards the prosecution costs and to pay a victim services surcharge of £70.

In the second case, the driver was ordered to pay a fine of £196, £180 contribution towards the prosecution costs and a victim services surcharge of £78.

The prosecutions, under section 5 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, were brought by West Berkshire Council’s public protection partnership (PPP).

Routine inspections are undertaken on weight restrictions across the three areas the PPP covers – West Berkshire, Wokingham and Bracknell Forest.