M5 lorry driver caught rolling cigarette with no hands on the wheel

A total of 58 drivers were stopped on the M5 during Operation Tramline by Gloucestershire Constabulary Road Policing officers last month. The road safety initiative aimed to educate motorists and reduce the number of incidents caused by unsafe driver behaviour or distractions such as using a mobile phone, not wearing a seat belt or insecure loads. The campaign used an unmarked HGV lorry -- on loan from National highways -- that was driven between junctions eight and 14 of the motorway which provided officers with an elevated position to identify a number of offences.

Among those spotted breaking the law was a HGV driver who was caught rolling a cigarette with no hands on the wheel and a tow truck operator whose vehicle contains several defects such as no brakes. Other issues with the tow truck included cuts in tyres, bald tyres, cracked suspension springs and an insecure load. A prohibition notice was issued to the driver as the vehicle was not roadworthy and could have put other motorists on the road at risk.

Police also pulled over two motorists as they were towing vehicles while in the third lane of the motorway which is not permitted as it contravenes guidelines in rule 265 of the Highway Code.

Officers who identified a driver committing an offence recorded video footage from the unmarked lorry cab before notifying colleagues in an accompanying car. These officers then intercepted the offending vehicle, pulled it over and dealt with the driver. The offences were dispensed with by way of Traffic Offence Reports (TORs) and summons.

These can potentially result in a fine of GBP100 for failing to wear a seat belt, GBP200 and six penalty points for using a handheld mobile device and a GBP300 fine for driving a vehicle in contravention of a prohibition. Penalties for driving whilst disqualified can lead to a fine of up to GBP5,000 and up to six months' imprisonment. Sergeant Matt Firth from the Roads Policing Unit said: "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."

The decade long operation was introduced to help decrease the number of people killed or seriously injured on the National Highways road network (motorways and major trunk roads). National Highways has three unmarked HGV cabs which it loans out to police forces across the country as part of Operation Tramline. Engineering Team Manager for National Highways Road Safety, Jack Mason, said: "Figures show that you're twice as likely to die in a crash if you don't wear a seat belt 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."