Warwickshire Police express shock as nearly 100 driving offences detected in just three days
Operation Tramline used a National Highways owned supercab to patrol four of the region's stretches of motorways and A-roads earlier this year - with using a mobile phone the leading reason why drivers were caught
Last updated 19th Mar 2023
Warwickshire Police have expressed their shock after detecting almost 100 offences in just three days.
The offences were caught with drivers during Operation Tramline between 27 February and 1 March this year, when officers were patrolling the M40, M6, M69 and A46 in the National Highways 'Supercab' vehicle across Warwickshire.
They launched the operation to closely observe the behaviours of drivers.
In total, the force caught people committing 97 driving offences - with the vast majority of those for using their phone behind the wheel at speeds of over 70 miles an hour.
Some of those caught included:
- A car driver reported for watching a film on their mobile phone whilst driving at 55mph on the motorway
- A van driver who was also reported for watching a film on their mobile phone whilst driving
- A provisional licence holder who was intercepted driving to their driving test without being supervised - their vehicle was seized
- A driver who was reported for driving without due care and attention and speeding having only had their licence for 3 days
- A driver was reported for speeding after being caught travelling at 115mph on the M40 - and is now pending a court hearing
- A driver was charged with failing to stop and dangerous driving and had no documentation. As they failed to stop when indicated to do so by the police, their car was also seized
- An illegal immigrant was arrested on behalf of immigration
- A further 61 drivers using their mobile phone driving over 70mph
- A further 26 drivers using their mobile phone driving up to 70mph
- A further 23 drivers or passengers not wearing seatbelts
- A further 12 drivers caught speeding
- A further 7 drivers not being in 'proper control' of their vehicle
- A further 2 drivers for driving with no insurance
Once a suspected offence was identified, the vehicle was intercepted by officers and brought into a check site - and out of the 85 drivers dealt with by officers, 47 of those were issued with Traffic Offence Reports, while 1 driver was handed a Graduated Fixes Penalty.
37 drivers were given 'words of advice' by police.
PS Shaun Bridle said “During this operation, I observed at first-hand how the majority of HGV drivers we saw are careful drivers, with seat belts being worn and no mobiles being used. However there is still much work to be done in educating van and car drivers with at least 3 of them likely to be disqualified and losing their jobs as a result of the choices they made driving through Warwickshire.”
“It's extremely disappointing especially during the NPCC mobile phone campaign to see so many mobile phone offences. Please do not underestimate these offences, as driving whilst distracted can lead to death and injury to the driver and innocent people using the road network. As long as we continue to see drivers not complying with the law, we will plan more operations over the coming months. We also need drivers to take responsibility by avoiding these high risk behaviours whilst driving.”
“To support our aim of making Warwickshire’s roads as safe as possible, we are training more officers to be qualified HGV drivers to join the Op Tramline team.”
National Highways Assistant Regional Safety Coordinator, Marie Biddulph, said: “We supply the unmarked HGV cabs to our police partners because we want to challenge unsafe driving and force motorists to think about their behaviour behind the wheel.
“It is frustrating to see so many people still putting themselves and others at risk on our roads. But those who continue to do so should be aware that our Operation Tramline HGVs are out there and can spot dangerous behaviour – whatever vehicle you are driving.”
You can find out more about Operation Tramline here.