North Yorkshire Police has released images of driving offences seen by officers using an undercover HGV. The cab has been loaned to the force as part of a joint road safety operation with Highways England, which operates England’s motorways and major A roads.
Codenamed Operation Tramline, the high riding position of the unmarked vehicle helps officers see drivers in different kinds of vehicles.
Roads Policing Group officers have been using it to enforce the law on handheld mobile phone use and other driver distractions, seatbelts and other rules of the road.
Over a five-day period, 48 drivers have been dealt with for 51 offences.
One was a van driver with no seatbelt, who was using a handheld mobile phone and had an unrestrained three-year-old child in the front seat. He was reported for numerous offences.
After spotting an offence, marked units are used to pull vehicles over in a safe place.
Traffic constable Mark Patterson said: “Despite knowing the law and being aware of the dangers, it’s shocking that some motorists continue to take unnecessary and selfish risks by using mobile phones, not wearing a seatbelt and even not strapping children in, which is totally unacceptable.
“The truck cab lent to us by Highways England gives us an excellent vantage point to check everyone is driving safely and legally.
“Unfortunately, we see the consequences of distracted driving – horrendous injuries and fatalities just because someone couldn’t wait a few minutes to answer a call or check a text.
“And if large vehicles such as lorries are involved in collisions, the impact is even more devastating and can absolutely crush smaller vehicles.
“So we make no apologies for enforcing the law and keeping North Yorkshire’s roads safe for everyone who uses them.”
The operation coincided with a separate week-long seatbelt campaign, which the Highways England lorry was also used to support. A further 60-plus drivers were dealt with for seatbelt offences alone during the week of education and enforcement.