Wiltshire Police operation: HGV catches illegal M4 drivers

Operation Tramline saw the police HGV take to the M4 from December 3 to December 6 to catch drivers breaking the law. One driver, who was initially stopped on the M4 when police saw him not holding the steering wheel properly, could now lose his licence after officers discovered something much more significant. A strong smell of cannabis coming from the van led police to conduct a roadside breath test after they stopped the driver.

The driver failed the test, and was arrested on suspicion of drug driving. [embedded content] "Cases like this prove how offences which, on the surface, may seem minor can often reveal a pattern of serious criminality," said PC Luke Hobbs, from Wiltshire's Roads Policing Unit.

"Operation Tramline gives us the advantage of being able to effectively police every driver on the motorway." In total, 44 illegal drivers were caught by undercover police over the three days. HGV drivers were the most common offenders and the most common offence detected during the operation was drivers not wearing seat belts.

It comes after data published by the government earlier this year revealed that from 2018 to 2022, 24 per cent of people who died in a car crash were not wearing a seat belt. All those caught not wearing a seatbelt on the M4 were given a GBP100 fixed penalty notice on the spot. The unmarked HGVs are owned by National Highways for police use (Image: Wiltshire Police) But illegal drivers who escaped unnoticed aren't necessarily in the clear, as Wiltshire Police runs the HGV operation multiple times a year.

"Thanks to the elevated position in the HGV, officers can see into all vehicles," said Jack Mason, National Highways engineering team manager for road safety. "So those who don't drive safely and legally should be aware that they may very well be spotted and face the consequences." PC Hobbs added: "We often get asked why not wearing a seat belt is such a big deal.

"The reality is that you are far more likely to be seriously injured - or die - if you crash while not wearing one, whether you're driving or a passenger."

"We encourage drivers to think about the consequences not just for themselves but the family they will leave behind when they decide to take the massive and unnecessary risk of not wearing a seat belt."