Operation Tramline involves the police’s own HGV to look them to see down into cars and across into other lorries.
National HGV road safety project – ‘Operation Tramline’
Three plain white HGV tractor units have been loaned out to police forces by National Highways to help improve safety for drivers on the strategic road network in England.
The contract for the unmarked HGV cab national project aims to change driver behaviour and discourage non-compliance.
The elevated position of the HGV cabs allows police forces to drive alongside vehicles to film any unsafe driver behaviour taking place.
Since the initiative began Operation Tramline has stopped 9,674 vehicles resulting in 10,926 offences with 11,338 interventions being dispensed.
Top three offences detected through Operation Tramline are:
1. Mobile phone use
2. Seat belt offences
3. Driver not in proper control
Nottinghamshire Roads Policing Unit said:
‘Today 9 Wednesday 12 October ) Team 2 and 3 joined forces targeting motorists on the M1.
‘This is part of Operation Tramline where we use our own HGV to assist us in reaching the lofty heights of lorry cabs.
‘The Teams stopped a lot of motorists in HGVS, LGVS, cars, vans anything and everything on the M1.
‘We were sad to see lots of commuters were driving around on their mobile phones.
‘This is selfish and dangerous – a text or call is not worth your life or the lives of other road users.
‘You can miss a text you, but can’t miss a thing on the roads.
‘The other big one was driving without wearing a seatbelt.
‘Folks there’s no excuse, its factory fitted for a reason and takes seconds to apply.
‘The seatbelt is there to keep you alive and most importantly keep you in the car if you crash. It also has to be worn properly. BUCKLE UP!
‘The pictured HGV with trailer was stopped and a on the spot fine was handed to the driver for an insecure load.
‘The picture doesn’t do it justice, as the lorry was leaning to one side and looked like it was about to fall over.
‘We were joined by the DVSA who immediately prohibited and clamped the lorry to prevent it causing any further danger to other road users.
‘The skoda was stopped and turned out to contain a male who was not insured on the car and did not hold a licence.’
