Swearing driver and cereal offender stopped by police during month-long crackdown on dangerous driving in Yorkshire and North East
Drivers eating at the wheel, swearing at police and typing two-handed at the wheel of an HGV were filmed by officers as part of a collaborative effort to deter and expose dangerous habits on our roads. National Highways worked with five police forces across the region during a month-long crackdown on dangerous driving.
Drivers eating at the wheel, swearing at police and typing two-handed at the wheel of an HGV were filmed by officers as part of a collaborative effort to deter and expose dangerous habits on our roads.
As part of Operation Tramline, National Highways provided five police forces with HGV cabs to patrol various sections of network including the A1, M1 and M18 during November and December.
Footage captured by South Yorkshire Police showed one driver typing away on a tablet or laptop computer while driving an HGV. A driver of a Ford Focus was then seen to use both hands to text on their mobile phone.
Several members of the public were spotted wearing no seatbelt with further footage showing one driver swiftly putting on his seatbelt when he realised his error.
Officers from North Yorkshire Police found one driver tucking into his breakfast bowl at the wheel while an HGV driver stuck his middle finger up when it dawned on him he had been spotted wearing no seatbelt.
Operation Tramline was first launched in 2015 with a new approach to tackling dangerous driving and giving police forces a vantage point to watch out for driver behaviour that could lead to or cause a fatality or serious injury on our motorways and A roads.
National Highways provides police forces with HGV cabs for them to patrol roads within their jurisdiction. From an elevated position, an officer in the passenger seat can observe and record anyone flouting the rules of the roads.
Officers in a separate police vehicle are alerted to the offence and the associated vehicle and the driver is then pulled over and any relevant enforcement action is taken. Nearly 50,000 offences have been recorded since its launch and consequences for drivers range from warnings to fixed penalty notices, court summons or arrest.
During Operation Tramline, more than 190 offences were recorded by five forces in North Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, Northumbria and Durham. Each force used the HGV cabs between Monday 4 November and Friday 13 December.
These included 60 drivers not wearing seatbelts and a further 64 using a mobile phone at the wheel while South Yorkshire Police officers spotted 21 drivers misusing the hard shoulder.
Nicola Clayton, National Highways' Regional Safety Programme Manager for Yorkshire and the North East said:
“Safety is our highest priority at National Highways. The HGV cabs are an important part of our commitment to tackling dangerous driving and those who take unnecessary risks with their own safety and that of the majority of drivers who respect the rules of the road.
“The number of people found not wearing their seatbelt or using their mobile phone and other devices while driving is quite alarming. By lending these cabs to the police forces to patrol the motorways and A roads in our region, we aim to help make all of our roads safer by raising awareness and encouraging motorists to consider their driving behaviour.”
Inspector Clive Turner from North Yorkshire Police said:
“Reducing the number of people who are killed and seriously injured on the 6,000 miles of roads that we police remains a key priority for the force. Holding a driving licence is a privilege and not a right, however a small minority of people take it for granted, and it is always disappointing to find so many drivers who are prepared to put their life and others lives at risk for the sake of not wearing a seat belt or checking their mobile phones.
“We’re grateful to our partners at National Highways for facilitating the use of the tractor unit. I hope that our use of this vehicle sends a clear message that driving irresponsibly is unacceptable and we will continue to take action against those who flout the law on the road network.”
Inspector Phil Patterson, of Northumbria Police’s dedicated Road Safety team, said:
“Statistics show nationally that five people die on our roads every single day – this is tragic and cannot be something we’re complacent about. A significant contributing factor to causing death or serious injury is driving while distracted.
“This latest joint activity with National Highways brought in some brilliant results in a short space of time – and using an unmarked HGV along with our police motorcycles gave us a unique viewpoint. A momentary lapse in your concentration can prove fatal, so we would urge people to think twice before picking up their device.”
Notes to Editors
National Highways is the wholly government-owned company responsible for modernising, maintaining and operating England’s motorways and major A roads.
Real-time traffic information for England’s motorways and major A roads is available via the Traffic England website, local and national radio travel bulletins, electronic road signs and mobile apps. Local Twitter services are also available.
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