Last month, Gloucestershire Constabulary’s Road Policing Unit conducted Operation Tramline on the M5 motorway, resulting in 58 drivers being stopped for unsafe driving behaviours. This targeted road safety initiative aimed to reduce accidents caused by distractions such as mobile phone use, not wearing seat belts, and unsecured loads.
The campaign employed an unmarked HGV lorry — on loan from National Highways — which patrolled between junctions 8 and 14. The elevated position allowed officers to spot numerous traffic violations from above. One notable offender was an HGV driver caught rolling a cigarette while having no hands on the wheel, a clear breach of safe driving standards.
In addition, a tow truck operator was stopped for multiple vehicle defects including faulty brakes, bald and cut tyres, cracked suspension springs, and an insecure load. Due to the severity of these issues, a prohibition notice was served, removing the unsafe vehicle from the road to protect other motorists.
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The operation also identified drivers towing vehicles illegally in the motorway’s third lane, violating rule 265 of the Highway Code. Officers recorded evidence covertly from the unmarked lorry before intercepting offenders in accompanying units to issue Traffic Offence Reports (TORs) and summons as appropriate.
Penalties for these offences vary: failing to wear a seat belt can incur a £100 fine, handheld mobile phone use attracts £200 and six penalty points, while contravening a prohibition notice leads to a £300 fine. Driving while disqualified carries even stiffer consequences including fines up to £5,000 and potential imprisonment.
Sergeant Matt Firth emphasized the ongoing importance of road safety enforcement: “Reducing deaths and serious injuries on our roads remains a top priority. We will persist with these operations to deter dangerous behaviour, remembering the serious impact such actions can have on individuals and families.”
Operation Tramline, now in its tenth year, focuses on improving safety across the National Highways network of motorways and major trunk roads. National Highways provides three unmarked HGV cabs nationwide to assist police with identifying unsafe drivers.
Jack Mason, Engineering Team Manager at National Highways Road Safety, highlighted the risks: “Not wearing a seat belt doubles your chance of dying in a crash, and using a phone quadruples your risk of being involved in one. These operations are crucial in reminding drivers of these dangers and keeping our roads safe.”
The results from this operation reaffirm the value of strategic enforcement and partnership efforts in tackling unsafe driving and protecting all road users.