Unmarked HGV cops on prowl
Police officers patrolling the M1 in unmarked HGV cabs spotted almost 700 offences in one week.
THE OFFICERS from eight police forces used the cabs to target unsafe driving, stopping a total of 663 vehicles and uncovering 691 offences.
The vehicles stopped included 180 HGVs and 204 private vehicles.
The most common offence was not wearing a seatbelt, with 239 people caught without their belt on. 181 people spotted using a mobile phone at the wheel.
Penalties ranged from words of advice to court summons and five arrests. National Highways provides the unmarked HGV cabs to police forces across the country as part of Operation Tramline, allowing officers to spot unsafe driving behaviour from an elevated position.
National Highways head of road safety, Jeremy Phillips, said: “It is disappointing that almost 700 offences were spotted in just one week – but thanks to Operation Freeway those drivers were prevented from continuing with their unsafe behaviours.
“Through this week of action we aim to reduce the number of incidents on the M1 and to encourage motorists to think about their driving and to adopt safer behaviours.”
