Lorry driver caught reading a book behind the wheel.
4,000 drivers caught by an unmarked ‘spy’ HGV lorry.
Last updated 6th Nov 2017
By Francesca Eagleton
Police have been patrolling in an ‘unmarked’ lorry to catch dangerous drivers.
Highways England’s unmarked HGV has been used to catch nearly 4000 dangerous drivers in its first two years.
Latest statistics show that nearly two thirds of the drivers who were stopped, were illegally using a mobile whilst driving, putting themselves and others at risk.
WATCH: Shocking footage shows a truck driver checking his phone while his right foot was on the dashboard
Earlier this year, the government doubled the penalty for drivers caught using their phones at the wheel. Motorists now receive 6 points on their licence and a £200 fine – up from the previous 3 points and £100 fine.
National Police Chiefs’ Council Lead for Roads Policing, Chief Constable Anthony Bangham said:
“Driving whilst distracted is completely unacceptable and police are also making use of the tougher new penalties to stop this dangerous behaviour by ensuring that offenders face the full weight of law.”
Although, this new penalty hasn’t stopped drivers being on their mobiles illegally, as it’s still a major factor in an average of two deaths on the roads every month.
Over the last five years 124 people lost their lives due to drivers using their phones, with 521 suffering serious injuries.
It’s not just drivers using their mobiles that police are catching in the act; amongst the shocking culprits caught in Greater Manchester was a lorry driver found to be reading a book whilst driving on the motorway.
Richard Leonard, Highways England’s Head of Road Safety, said:
“We’ve found that the vast majority of drivers are sensible behind the wheel but a few have got into bad habits, or are simply ignoring the law and putting themselves and others at risk.
“We will continue to use the lorry to tackle deaths and serious injuries and to encourage people to improve how they drive.”
Highways England, in collaboration with the police have released a new THINK! campaign video to tackle the issue of road safety.
The video, which was launched last month, is directed by the team behind the video for Pharrell Williams’s hit song Happy, and highlights the dangers of being distracted whilst driving.