National Highways has published three pieces of footage, highlighting some of the ‘shocking’ driving spotted by police officers using unmarked HGVs – including a driver applying make-up.
The HGVs are used as part of Operation Tramline, the national safety initiative that was launched in 2015.
Since then, officers have used the elevated position provided by the HGV to detect more than 46,000 offences. The most common offences are not wearing a seatbelt (13,562) and using a mobile phone (11,965).
One of the three videos shows a motorist so focused on applying her make-up that she doesn’t notice the police officers driving alongside her.
Even when the officers in National Highways’ unmarked HGV cab beep the horn she carries on applying her make-up, the car swerving as she focuses on the mirror.
The second piece of footage shows a van driver steering with his knees as he tucks into his fast food. With no hands on the wheel, he is seen eating a portion of fries, held in his right hand, before picking up his drink with his left hand.
Believed by police to be on a hands-free phone call, the driver then undertakes a truck in the second lane of the M6 as he drives past Corley Services.
Meanwhile, in a third incident, a motorist is spotted driving along the M40 with a phone in her hand, seemingly scrolling through her messages, and at one point with both hands off the wheel. The astonished officers then spot the driver ‘doing something’ with her laptop next to her.
Matt Staton, National Highways head of national road user safety delivery, said: “We know that the shocking examples identified by police in our unmarked cabs are carried out by a small minority and, thankfully, that most of the drivers on our roads are part of the law-abiding majority.
“However, those who continue to take risks such as using their mobile phone at the wheel or other things that mean that their hands are off the wheel are putting themselves and others in danger.”
The HGV cabs are currently being used as part of a Week of Action on the M6, taking place from 3-9 June, which aims to reduce the number of incidents on the motorway.
The week-long campaign takes place along the length of the M6, the longest motorway in the country, and so has been labelled Operation Vertebrae.
National Highways deals with over 200 reported incidents on the M6 every day – 74,960 on the road in 2023 including 3,808 traffic collisions.
Seven forces are taking part in Operation Vertebrae – Lancashire, Cumbria, Merseyside, Greater Manchester, Cheshire, Warwickshire Police and Central Motorway Police Group as well as the North West Commercial Vehicle Unit, North West Motorway Policing Group and a number of local road safety partnerships.
Inspector Si Paull, from Warwickshire Police, said: “Our officers are very enthusiastic about taking part in operations using National Highways owned unmarked HGVs because it allows us to intercept drivers like these who do not take driving seriously and could so easily be involved in a serious or fatal collision.
“Our aim is to save lives and unfortunately we are seeing too many drivers showing total disregard for their own safety and that of other road users whilst driving at motorway speeds.”
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