Officers use National Highways HGV supercab to detect driver offences

Warwickshire Police detected 77 offences in a 5 day Operation Tramline between 12 and 16 December 2022 on the M40, M42, M6, M69 and A46 in Warwickshire.

During the Operation, officers from the Operations Patrol Unit used a specially adapted National Highways owned HGV supercab from which they were able to observe driver behaviour in all vehicles from cars to the largest HGVs.

Using the ‘supercab’ officers were able to capture footage of drivers committing some of the most dangerous offences possible – known as the Fatal 4 – whilst driving at high speeds on Warwickshire’s highest speed routes:-

• 17 mobile phone offences
• 16 seat belt offences
• 9 speeding offences
• 5 Arrests for Sec 5A drug driving

This was possible due to the high vantage point offered by the supercab.

Despite extremely cold weather, officers were able to detect a full range of road traffic offences throughout the week.   Once an offence was detected, officers intercepted the drivers and brought them into a check site to be spoken to by officers. Some drivers received words of advice from officers.

The following offences were also processed:-

• 2 insecure loads
• 5 No insurance
• 4 Vehicles seized for No Insurance
• 1 Vehicle seized for No Tax (had no tax since 2020)
• 3 drivers dealt with for driving otherwise in accordance with a licence
• 20 other offences (including excessive tints, driving on hard shoulder, etc)
• Dealt with 3 collisions
• 2 referrals to the Transport Commissioner

Sergeant Shaun Bridle said “With roads getting busier and busier, it is even more important that drivers, especially those travelling at up to 70mph on our motorways and dual carriageways do so safely and legally.  Sadly operations like this demonstrate that drivers are not considering the dangers of their actions to themselves and other innocent road users.  We will continue to conduct regular roads policing operations to make our roads as safe as possible for the majority of law abiding road users. 

National Highways Assistant Regional Safety Co-ordinator, Marie Biddulph, said “The National Highways HGVs offer our police partners an elevated position so they can monitor the driving behaviour of those in every kind of vehicle.

“Safety is always our priority and through initiatives such as Operation Tramline we want to prevent incidents happening on our roads by reaching that minority of drivers who flout the law, putting themselves and others at risk. 

“Knowing that these HGVs are patrolling our motorways and major A-roads, we hope that all motorists, including professional drivers, will consider their driving behaviour and the safety of their vehicles to help make sure all road users get home safe and sound.”