The National Highways is marking a decade of the famous or infamous unmarked HGV tractor unit patrolling the roads under the Operation Tramline guise, writes Peter Brown.
In 10 years, more than 51,500 offences have been recorded by officers from 35 different police forces patrolling across the country.
Around 13,000 hours have been racked up by police since officers from the Surrey force took out the first HGV in 2015.
There are now three unmarked HGVs available to police partners who can take advantage of the elevated position to see into cars and vans or across into lorries.
To mark the occasion, National Highways has some of the most shocking incidents.
- People eating takeaways, a driver scoffing a bowl of cereal at the wheel in North Yorkshire and someone tucking into lasagne with a knife and fork while driving
- A woman driver applying her makeup while travelling along the M40 in the Midlands
- A driver steering a vehicle transporter with just his elbows along the M40 in Warwickshire.
- Drivers using two mobile phones at a time and one that was placing an online order with a phone in one hand and holding their credit card in the other.
- A driver playing with a Rubik’s Cube while manoeuvring through M25 traffic
- Hampshire Police once saw three HGV drivers from the same company using their phones while driving during a week of activity.
- A driver in Surrey defended their use of a mobile phone while driving saying that they had a new girlfriend and that their song came on the radio, so they needed to call them.
- The the most common offences recorded over the last decade are not wearing a seatbelt (14,861).
- And using a mobile phone (13,553).
Together the seatbelt and mobile phone offences these offences make up over half (54%) of the total number of offences recorded by police between 2015 and 2024.
One of the first officers to ever go out in the Operation Tramline HGV in March 2015 was Sgt Dan Pascoe. At the time just a young PC, he is now in charge of the operation for Surrey Police and Sussex Police.
He said: “I was working in the roads policing team and volunteered to go out in the Operation Tramline HGV, I have been involved ever since.
“The truck gives us an invaluable observation point. Vehicles have been getting progressively higher over the years, but this cab is a golden ticket enabling us to see over into pretty much every vehicle.”
The initial focus of the campaign was spotting people on their phones although forces look for all offences now. Sgt Pascoe believes the campaign has helped reduce the number of people using their mobile phones.
He said: “We have definitely seen a significant tail-off. We may never have a zero month unfortunately, but the message is certainly getting through.
“Drivers of cars, vans and pick-ups are where the numbers are highest. It’s not as high as it used to be but we haven’t got to the point yet where it is seen as socially unacceptable.”
Chief Constable Jo Shiner, the National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for roads policing, said: “Driving while distracted is incredibly dangerous and selfish, putting many lives at risk and as the statistics show, it can all too often end in tragedy. Proactive work to tackle this and the other fatal four driving behaviours is vitally important in improving the safety of our roads, as well as educating road users to think twice about their actions.
“The results from Operation Tramline speak for themselves in showing just how valuable it is and how the perspective from the truck cab enhances officers’ view of the road.
“It also shows great partnership working which is absolutely key to making our roads safer for everyone.”
