Unmarked lorry cab helps detect 89 driving offences

17 July 2024

Martin HeathBBC News, Northamptonshire

News image — Poor driver behaviour is filmed from the unmarked cab

Northamptonshire Police Police officer sitting in cab points a camera at a passing lorry — Poor driver behaviour is filmed from the unmarked cab

A police force says an unmarked lorry cab has helped it detect 89 driving offences.

Northamptonshire Police used the cab on four of the county's major trunk roads.

Officers in the cab filmed more than 1,000 vehicles.

Nearly 40 drivers and passengers were seen not wearing seatbelts, and nearly 30 drivers were caught using mobile phones.

The HGV super cab is part of the National Highways "Operation Tramline" road safety initiative.

It has a derestricted speed limiter, so can travel up to the national speed limit and has flashing lights for use in an emergency.

During the operation in June, vehicles were filmed on the A14, A34, A45 and M1.

If any offences were spotted, the vehicles were pulled over a short distance away by a police car.

National Highways White unmarked cab on motorway — The cab is not restricted to standard lorry speed limits

Among the offences were:

29 drivers and 10 passengers not wearing seatbelts (£100 fixed penalty)
19 drivers using a handheld mobile phone while driving
One driver without insurance
Two drivers driving otherwise than in accordance with their licence

Another 13 drivers were reported for various offences, including carrying dangerous loads and driving without due care and attention.

Getty Images Woman with long hair wearing black hat uses phone in lorry cab — A total of 19 drivers were filmed using handheld mobile phones while driving

Northamptonshire Police's safer roads team manager, Matthew O’Connell, said: “It is always disappointing to find so many drivers prepared to put their livelihoods at risk for the sake of not wearing a seatbelt or checking their mobile phones."

Northamptonshire Police 4WD pulling trailer loaded with hay — This unsecured load of hay was spotted during a previous operation

National Highways' regional safety programme manager, Wayne Norris, said: “Those who continue to pose a risk on our roads should be aware that our Tramline HGVs are out there and the officers, from their elevated position, can spot unsafe drivers in any vehicle.”

Incidents filmed in previous operations include a driver, with both hands off the wheel, watching video of how to rescue someone from a kayak, and a lorry driver eating pickled gherkins from a jar with his elbows on the steering wheel.

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