Officers using an elevated HGV caught motorists engaging in “dangerous behaviour”
Police launched a crackdown using an elevated HGV(Image: North Wales Police)
A Welsh police force has been using an unmarked lorry to catch drivers breaking the law on main routes. Officers using an elevated HGV caught motorists engaging in “dangerous behaviour” on the A55, A483 and A494 in a police crackdown.
Operation Tramline, which used the HGV cab to give officers a better view into vehicles, has been a success according to officers from North Wales Police.
A North Wales Police statement Thursday read: “Officers from North Wales Police’s roads crime unit stopped more than 30 vehicles and issued tickets and graduated fixed penalty notices for a range of road safety offences during the latest activity as part of Operation Tramline.
“The operation, which uses an elevated HGV cab to give officers a better view into vehicles, has once again highlighted the dangerous behaviour taking place on the roads of north Wales.
“Amongst the offences detected on the A55, the A483 and the A494 earlier this month were drivers using mobile phones behind the wheel, failing to wear a seatbelt and vehicles carrying insecure loads. Officers also continue to see mobile phone use among drivers of larger vehicles including HGVs and LGVs.
“Using a mobile phone whilst driving can mean a driver is distracted at the very moment they need to concentrate on the road, particularly putting themselves and other road users at serious risk.”
Sergeant Danny Rees of the roads crime unit said: “It is disappointing that we continue to see drivers putting themselves and other road users at risk through behaviour that is entirely avoidable.
“What is particularly concerning is that we continue to see professional drivers, including HGV and LGV drivers, using mobile phones whilst driving.
“When you are behind the wheel, your attention should be on the road. A phone call, message or notification can wait. Your safety, and the safety of everyone else using the road, cannot.
“Operation Tramline gives our officers an excellent vantage point to identify dangerous behaviour, and we will continue to take action where drivers put themselves and others at risk.”
National Highways regional safety programme manager Marie Biddulph said: “We know that the majority of people who use our roads drive safely but there remains a minority who continue to put themselves and others at risk.
“Research shows you are 4 times more likely to be in a crash if you use your phone. We all need to play our part in keeping our roads as safe as they can be.
“So National Highways will continue to work with our police partners through initiatives such as Operation Tramline to encourage road users to think about their driving behaviours.”
