HGV ‘supercabs’ – loaned to police forces by Highways England – have helped officers apprehend more than 3,500 dangerous drivers in the past year.
The three HGVs patrol motorways and major A roads across England – and have been used by 29 police forces over the past year in an initiative known as Operation Tramline.
The elevated position of the HGV cab allows officers to film unsafe driving behaviour – with offenders then pulled over by police cars following a short distance behind.
In the last 12 months the HGVs helped police forces issue 462 penalty charge notices and file 2,533 traffic offence reports – usually requiring drivers to attend a driver education course.
There were also 73 prosecutions for more serious offences – one of which involved a lorry driver using a mobile phone to make a credit card payment as he travelled along the M40 near Leamington Spa (featured video).
The most common offences included:
- Not wearing seatbelt – 1,195
- Using mobile phone – 1,062
- Not in proper control of vehicle – 262
- Speeding – 118
Richard Leonard, head of road safety at Highways England, said: “Hundreds of thousands of drivers use our roads every day and the vast majority are sensible behind the wheel but some are putting themselves and others at risk.
“We introduced the three new HGV supercabs last year to help keep the roads safe and tackle dangerous driving by people who have either got into bad habits or are simply ignoring the law.
“The cabs have helped to identify over 3,000 unsafe drivers over the past year, and we hope our week of action on the M1 will encourage everyone to think about what more they could do to improve how they drive.”
Comment on this story