Driver caught steering huge transporter with elbows on busy Warwickshire motorway
The man was promptly pulled over by police after being caught driving dangerously on the M40.
Police officers overtaking a laden car transporter on the M40 near Gaydon in Warwickshire were shocked to see him only using one elbow to control it.
The driver only rectified his behaviour when the officers - travelling in an unmarked National Highways HGV cab - caught his attention. They notified their colleagues travelling behind to pull him over.
Footage of a number of shocking incidents captured by police officers in the unmarked cabs has been released by National Highways today ahead of a week of action along the length of the M1.
Officers from eight different police forces will be patrolling the motorway between London and Leeds from Monday (6 March) to Sunday (12 March) looking out for incidents of illegal driving - such as this driver who was spotted at the wheel of a horsebox texting on his mobile phone – and without his seatbelt on.
From the elevated position in the HGV cab, officers can spot unsafe driving behaviour – whatever vehicle the motorist may be in.
More than 33,254 offences have been recorded since the ‘Operation Tramline’ unmarked HGV cabs safety initiative was launched by National Highways in 2015. And some 30,380 vehicles have been stopped by police.
The most common offences are not wearing a seatbelt (9,962) and using a mobile phone (8,368) followed by people who were not in proper control of their vehicle (2,257).
Consequences for drivers range from warnings to fixed penalty notices, court summons or arrest.