Police in Berkshire use HGV in road safety campaign
It was part of a week long blitz on driving habits
Thames Valley Police have used an HGV to allow them to observe drivers from above in a road safety campaign.
Between Monday (25/7) and Friday (29/7) last week, the Joint Operations Roads Policing Unit worked in partnership with National Highways to run Operation Tramline.
The road safety operation covered sections of the M1, M40, M4 and A34, targeting road safety and seeking to detect and deal with road traffic offences.
Officers from Thames Valley Police deployed an unmarked HGV tractor unit supplied and funded by National Highways in this operational role.
Operation Tramline targets all vehicles on our roads, with the elevated position of the HGV cabs allowing officers to drive alongside vehicles to film unsafe driver behaviour.
Using the HGV enabled officers to not only detect offences being committed by private vehicle drivers, but also enabled officers to observe commercial vehicles that are sometimes more difficult to see into from patrol cars.
During the week-long operation, a total of 130 traffic offence reports were issued to drivers for offences of using a mobile phone while driving, not wearing a seat belt, careless driving, driving while not in proper control, driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence and failing to comply with a red traffic light.
Three car drivers were also arrested on suspicion of driving while over the prescribed drug drive limit.
In total – the following offences were dealt with.
Driving while using a mobile phone – 40
Driving without wearing a seatbelt – 77
Careless driving – 6
Driving while not in proper control – 5
Driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence – 1
Failing to comply to a red traffic light – 1
Inspector Scott Long of the Joint Operations Roads Policing Unit said:
“We strive towards delivering a first-class service to the public and to further reduce the volume of those who die or who are seriously injured on our roads.
“By utilising Operation Tramline, we have been able to deal with a number of motorists who were committing road traffic offences that are linked to the fatal four – driving whilst using a mobile phone, driving without wearing a seatbelt, driving or attempting to drive while above the legal limit or unfit through drink and speeding.
“Working in partnership with National Highways, we have a long-term ambition that no one should be harmed when travelling or working on the road network.
“Operation Tramline is helping to achieve that aim as we seek to reinforce appropriate and safe driving behaviour.”