New footage shows drivers who were literally driving ‘hands-free’ caught by police officers in an unmarked HGV.
Revealed ahead of a week of concerted action on the M6 to tackle dangerous drivers, the footage includes a clip of a van driver using his phone and holding a drink along the A500 in Stoke-on-Trent, leaving both hands completely off the wheel at one point.
A second video shows a lorry driver taking both his hands off the wheel to roll a cigarette as he drives along the M40 in Warwickshire before looking over to see the camera in the HGV next to him.
Other footage shows the moment a driver who is not wearing his seatbelt is spotted by Warwickshire Police. He was followed off the motorway by police officers travelling behind and dealt with.
These are just some of the 28,000-plus offences recorded by officers in the Operation Tramline HGV cabs since the national safety initiative was launched by National Highways in 2015. The elevated viewpoint from the unmarked HGV cabs enables police officers to easily spot people driving dangerously – the most common offences recorded include not wearing a seatbelt (8,375), using a mobile phone (7,163) and not being in proper control of a vehicle (2,083). Drivers face everything from warnings to fixed penalty notices, court summons or arrest.
The unmarked HGV cabs will also be used to further clamp down on dangerous drivers from Monday 13 June to Sunday 19 June as part of a multi-agency Week of Action on the M6. The campaign is being dubbed Operation Vertebrae, as the M6 is the longest motorway in the country.
National Highways head of road safety Jeremy Phillips said the work helps makes road safer by raising awareness and encouraging motorists to consider their driving behaviour.
“Working together with our road safety partners, we are spreading our safety messages and raising awareness that those who put themselves and others at risk can expect to be spotted. Operation Tramline enables our partners in enforcement agencies to identify that high-risk minority and take action to bring their behaviours in line with the safe and law-abiding majority.
“The types of behaviour identified are typically those of a minority of motorists and whilst the number of people still using their mobile phone at the wheel or not wearing a seatbelt is disappointing, thanks to the Tramline HGVs we’ve been able to stop people who could have caused serious harm on the road.”
The DVSA, Health and Safety Executive, HMRC, the Home Office and Immigration Enforcement will also take part in the Week of Action alongside the HGV cab patrols, carrying out vehicle checks and offering advice to drivers.
