Suffolk Police stop HGV driver watching pornographic video while driving
The driver was stopped as part of a week of action last month.
Police in Suffolk stopped over 200 vehicles, made two arrests and detected 250 offences, as part of a recent week-long roads policing operation.
Operation Tramline saw police provided with an HGV tractor unit by National Highways, which allowed officers to carry out patrols across the county’s strategic road network and use this elevated position to detect any drivers committing offences.
The initiative took place between Monday 28 October to Friday 1 November and involved officers from the Commercial Vehicle Unit, the Joint Norfolk and Suffolk Roads and Armed Policing Team, and the Road Casualty Reduction Team, with enforcement taking place on the A14, A12 and A11.
The HGV tractor unit - which was driven by a police officer - provides an ideal vantage point meaning officers can look directly into the cabs of other lorry drivers, whilst also dealing with any offending motorists driving vans or cars too. Supporting police officers are then on hand to pull-over any offenders.
A total of 220 vehicles were stopped, including 81 HGVs and 51 smaller goods vehicles.
250 offences were detected and the drivers in question were issued with Traffic Offence Reports (TORs), some having committed more than one offence.
Two people were arrested on suspicion of drug-driving and 201 TORs were issued, with the primary offences below:
- 83 for not wearing a seat belt
- 37 for using a mobile phone
- 59 for construction and use (roadworthiness offences)
- 21 for an insecure load
- 15 for driving without due care and attention
- Eight for driver’s hours
- Six for contravening a red light
- Four for not being in proper control
- Two for no insurance
Of particular note of the above TORs issued, one driver of a 44-tonne HGV was found to be disqualified and another - also driving a 44-tonne HGV - was caught watching a pornographic video whilst driving.
One person driving an HGV loaded with a fuel bowser was caught smoking in the cab and another check of a vehicle carrying dangerous goods, resulted in four prohibitions being issued and a prosecution file will be served on the company concerned.
Five graduated fixed penalty notices were issued, with total fines of £700. 14 people were given words of advice and two vehicles were seized for not having insurance.
PC Wayne Sturman, of the Commercial Vehicle Unit, said: "It never ceases to amaze me that we continue to detect such a high number of offences every time we run this operation.
“Although a high percentage of these are drivers putting themselves at risk by not wearing a seat belt, there were also a significant number of drivers not in proper control of their vehicle – including those using a mobile phone – or driving without due care and attention, all of which I think everyone would agree is of particular concern – especially if this relates to HGV drivers.
“There were also a high number of vehicles that were unroadworthy or with insecure loads, which are equally dangerous offences. The highlighted case of the man watching a video will shock people I’m sure, along with the sheer stupidity of smoking when you have a fuel bowser behind you.
“Our thanks once again goes to National Highways for providing us with the HGV tractor unit free of charge. This enables us to carry-out enforcement in respect of this group of road users, who are in control of the biggest and therefore potentially most dangerous vehicles on the roads.”
Tim Passmore, Suffolk’s Police and Crime Commissioner, added: “Another set of impressive results from the Constabulary although I’m absolutely staggered by the mindless stupidity of two of the drivers risking their own lives, and the lives of others, by watching a video and smoking in close proximity to a fuel tank – it absolutely beggars belief. I am just glad officers were able to identify this madness and deal with the drivers accordingly.
“I also find it very disappointing that drivers still need to be reminded about something so obvious as putting on a seat belt or not using a mobile phone – there really is no excuse for that at all.”
He added: “I fully support this pro-active approach to crack down on irresponsible drivers, the number of offences detected is really impressive. I spent some time with the roads policing unit in an HGV cab on a previous campaign and was amazed at what you see when you’re at eye level with another HGV. It really does give officers an excellent view and an opportunity to see offences they might otherwise miss, so I’d like to thank Highways England for their support, it is greatly appreciated.”
National Highways’ Assistant Regional Safety Coordinator Marie Biddulph said: “Through Operation Tramline, and working closely with our police partners, we want to make people think about their driving behaviour and reduce the number of incidents out on our roads caused by unsafe driving.
“We know that distracted driving and not wearing seatbelts are often key factors in incidents that result in people being killed or seriously injured - research shows that you are four times more likely to be in a crash if you use your phone while driving and twice as likely to die in a crash if you don’t wear a seatbelt.
“So a successful day for us is a day when none of these unsafe driving behaviours are spotted. But while we still have that minority of people who insist on putting themselves and others at risk we will continue to put out our Tramline HGVs and work to make our roads safer.”