Drivers risk £5,000 fine ‘and six months in prison’ after driving past HGV in May
Gloucestershire Police caught 58 people committing road offences on the M5 last month, as part of Operation Tramline
06:11, 11 Jun 2025
Drivers risk ?5,000 fine 'and six months in prison' after driving past HGV in MayDrivers risk ?5,000 fines and six months' imprisonment for breaking traffic rules along major roads after a police operation.[1]
Gloucestershire Police caught 58 people committing road offences on the M5 last month, as part of Operation Tramline, a road safety campaign that utilises unmarked heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) to patrol major roads.
The operation from the force has been launched to detect unsafe driving behaviours - and has already succeeded in catching dozens, with one motorist guilty of rolling a CIGARETTE while at the wheel in a car on the busy stretch of motorway, which runs through the Midlands region.
Sergeant Matt Firth from the Roads Policing Unit said:[3] "Reducing the numbers of people killed or seriously injured on our roads continues to be a priority for Gloucestershire Constabulary. "We will continue to run these operations to detect and deter those who choose to drive in this manner remembering that any of us or our loved ones could be impacted by such behaviours whilst using the county's roads." Jack Mason, National Highways Engineering Team Manager for Road Safety, said: "Figures show that you're twice as likely to die in a crash if you don't wear a seatbelt and four times more likely to be in a crash if using a phone at the wheel. So it is always disappointing when we see people who are prepared to put themselves and others at risk in this way. "This year marks the 10th anniversary of Operation Tramline and our goal has always been to remind motorists to think carefully about their driving behaviours and to make our roads safer. "These results show just how valuable our HGV cabs continue to be in helping to spot unsafe driving behaviours and we will continue working with our police partners to make our roads as safe as we can." A ?300 fine was handed to the motorist travelling with a driving ban, with police explaining that the penalties for driving while disqualified can lead to a fine of up to ?5,000 and up to six months' imprisonment. Chief Constable Jo Shiner, the National Police Chiefs' Council lead for roads policing, warned that 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".References