POLICE patrolling the M6 in unmarked HGV cabs spotted some 230 offences being committed by road users during a week of action.
More than 200 vehicles were stopped as forces along the length of the motorway took part in the multi-agency operation targeting unsafe drivers.
The most common offences were using a mobile phone (81) and not wearing a seatbelt (54).
From their elevated viewpoint in the unmarked HGV cabs, police officers were able to look across into HGVs or down into cars and vans. Consequences for drivers ranged from warnings to fixed penalty notices, court summons or arrest.
Shocking behaviour spotted by officers included:
*A woman driver driving along in the morning traffic applying her make-up while swerving across her lane, oblivious to the police officers alongside her.
*A van driver steering with his knees as he tucked into his fast food – fries in one hand and a drink in the other.
*A motorist driving along the with a phone in her hand and “doing something” with the laptop next to her.
More than 46,150 offences have been recorded by officers in HGV cabs since the national safety initiative was launched by National Highways in 2015. The most common offences are not wearing a seatbelt (13,562) and using a mobile phone (11,965).
The aim of the week of action was to target unsafe drivers and reduce incidents on the motorway. National Highways deals with over 200 reported incidents on the M6 every day – 74,960 on the road in 2023 including 3,808 traffic collisions.
