Dorset Police HGV patrol Operation Tramline results in three arrests and finds 120 road offences

THREE motorists were arrested and more than 100 road offences detected in a four-day Dorset Police highways crackdown using an unmarked lorry.

Roads policing officers patrolled county routes in a specialist HGV tractor unit, provided by National Highways, for Operation Tramline from Monday 19th to Thursday 22nd August.

Two of the “fatal five” most common causes of fatal and serious injury crashes – not wearing a seatbelt and being distracted – accounted for most of the total 120 driving offences.

Operation Tramline took place from Monday 19th to Thursday 22nd August (picture: Dorset Police)

Trained officers used a video camera to capture evidence from the HGV cab’s elevated position.

The information was then shared with roads policing colleagues who intercepted the identified vehicles.

The four-day operation resulted in 120 road offences being detected (picture: Dorset Police)

Of the three arrests, one was on suspicion of drug-driving, one was a wanted male, and the other was on suspicion of taking a vehicle without consent and failing to stop for police.

There were 46 cases of not wearing a seatbelt, along with 35 of using a mobile phone while driving, 10 of a driver not in proper control, and five of no insurance.

Seven excessive or inappropriate speed offences were also detected, as well as three insecure loads, three driving without a licence, and 10 other offences.

Officers in the HGV cab relayed information to roads policing colleagues (picture: Dorset Police)

Five vehicles were seized, one with a defective tyre was prohibited, and a stolen car was located.

Insp. Joe Wheable believed the number of offences detected proved the operation’s importance.

Officers speak to a driver during the crackdown (picture: Dorset Police)

“Op Tramline is one of many education and enforcement tactics we use to make our roads safer for our communities, and we will continue working with our partners to provide education to motorists and to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured on our roads,” he said.

Mark Armstrong, the force’s head of road safety, called the operation a “fantastic example of partnership working”.

Voicing his continued support for the initiative, police and crime commissioner David Sidwick said: “Officers dealt with a range of behaviours from a motorist rolling a cigarette with no hands on the wheel, to catching one man texting behind the wheel.

“This was an expensive text that will cost him a fine and six points on his licence.

“Every death on Dorset’s roads is a tragedy – and despite huge strides made in this area, there is still more that can be done to keep road users safe.”

Stressing the importance of education as well as enforcement for drivers, Mr Sidwick’s message to them was “don’t take the risk”.

For road safety information, visit the force’s dedicated webpage at tinyurl.com/3fvxuuew