145 offences detected for Operation Tramline

Officers from the Roads Policing Unit (RPU) and the Special Constabulary detected 145* offences on the A1 during Operation Tramline last week.

A 38-year-old man, who tested positive for cannabis and cocaine, was also arrested on suspicion of drug driving and has been released under investigation.

Operation Tramline is a road safety initiative that allows us to detect and deal with traffic offences as they happen, to educate motorists and subsequently reduce the number of incidents caused by unsafe driver behaviour.

To do this, we work closely with National Highways, who loans an unmarked lorry to the force for the week of action. The elevated height of the lorry allows officers to see into other lorry cabs and cars to detect offences being committed.

During the enforcement, officers stopped*:

• 21 drivers for using their mobile phones while driving
• 47 drivers for not wearing seatbelts
• 9 drivers for having an insecure load
• 12 drivers for construction and use offences do to with vehicle conditions
• 3 drivers for not being in proper control
• 5 drivers for driver’s hours
• 1 driver for not having insurance
• 10 drivers for driving without due care

Drivers were either given a Traffic Offence Report (TOR) or dealt with by way of summons or given a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN).

A number of vehicles were also cabled during the operation. This essentially means that if a car or lorry has been classed as dangerous, a chain is put around the wheels of the vehicle to stop it from moving.

The chain can only be removed after the driver has had sufficient rest if they were stopped for driver’s hours, or until they have sorted the issue preventing them from carrying on with their journey i.e. vehicle conditions.

Inspector Jase Baxter from the Specialist Operations Unit said: “Operation Tramline is a tactic which allows us a platform to detect offences we may not normally be in a position to do so. 

“Sadly, even after 10 years of Operation Tramline, we are still detecting numerous offences of poor driving behaviours which the vast majority of our road using community also find completely unacceptable. We will continue to run these operations to detect and deter those who choose to drive in this manner, that can have devastating consequences for themselves and others.”

National Highways Assistant Regional Safety Co-Ordinator Marie Biddulph said: “This year marks the 10th anniversary of Operation Tramline and these results from the A1 show just how valuable our HGV cabs continue to be in helping to spot unsafe driving behaviours.

“We know that driver distraction, such as using a mobile phone, and not wearing a seatbelt are key factors in collisions which result in people being harmed on our roads. So, it is disappointing that we still have a minority of people who are prepared to put themselves and others at risk in this way.

“Our goal through Operation Tramline has always been to remind motorists to think carefully about their driving behaviours behind the wheel and we will continue working with our police partners through Operation Tramline and other campaigns to make that happen and make our roads safer.”

*Amended to update total number of offences dealt with for Operation Tramline.