Police in and around Glasgow are beginning a week-long crackdown on "motorway madness".

Officers in high-visibility and unmarked cars carrying video equipment are watching for tail-gaiting, queue-jumping, lane-hogging and for drivers using mobile phones.

All motorists stopped during the operation are being offered road safety literature and younger drivers have the chance to attend a presentation by the Traffic Education and Support Team.

The campaign has three aims:

• To influence driver behaviour on the motorway and trunk road network through education, encouragement and enforcement

• To improve driver awareness of road traffic legislation, the Highway Code and Department of Transport, Environment and the Regions advice on legal, safe and courteous motorway driving

• To improve the free flow of traffic on the motorway and trunk road network.

Traffic on Glasgow's motorway network is heavy, with some stretches of the M8 being classed as the busiest in Europe.

More than 120,000 vehicles travel over the Kingston Bridge alone every day.

In the past three months, three collisions on the motorway network have resulted in four deaths in Glasgow.

'Amber' tests

In addition, traffic officers will also be targeting motorists driving whilse under the influence of alcohol, after they found that a high number of drivers provided "amber" roadside breath tests.

Drink-drivers have been detected at weekends on the motorway network after leaving social events in Glasgow city centre.

The initiative will focus mainly on the motorway network in the Glasgow area, primarily the M8, M77 and M74.

The Clydeside Expressway, A737 and the Clyde Tunnel will also be targeted.

In a similar 10-day initiative last year, a total of 656 motorists were reported and a further 1,054 were warned by Strathclyde Police traffic officers for committing minor offences on motorways.

Traffic head Chief Superintendent, Jim Gilmour, said: "Complacency or lack of concentration is often the reason for an increase in speed or failure to maintain a safe distance to other cars.

"This type of behaviour is the most common cause of collisions, which on the motorway network can have the potential for catastrophe.

"I am also concerned by the number of people driving whilst using mobile telephones and the continued core of drivers who chose to drive when impaired."