MORE THAN 150 motorists were spotted committing driving offences on the region’s roads.
Last month West Midlands Police’s Roads Policing Unit took part in Operation Tramline, a national initiative to tackle driving offences on the roads.
The co-ordinated activity is led by the force traffic officers who spot offences being committed across the road network from inside the cab of an unmarked HGV, provided by National Highways England.
A police officer captures evidence of each offence on their bodyworn video from the passenger seat of the lorry cab while traffic cops in unmarked and marked police vehicles intercept the offenders. They then enforce the law and educate them on the harm these offences can cause.
Officers dealt with over 150 motorists that were in charged of vehicles committing a range of offences during the week-long operation.
This included not being in proper control of a vehicle, using a phone while driving, driving without a seatbelt, no insurance, and insecure loads, all which could prove fatal in the event of a collision.
Some of the most serious cases included a driver reversing up a motorway slip road, a trailer carrying loose dumbbell weights that were not securely tied down, drivers taking both hands off the wheel to sift paperwork and use their mobile phones, and a tractor which had been improperly transported, being held down by just two 2kg straps so the wheels were not even touching the trailer bed.
Roads Policing Unit Sergeant Sarah Phillips said: “Operation Tramline is a national initiative that helps us tackle some of the most dangerous offences on our road network.
“While people may comment that we should be focusing on other crimes, it is important that we prevent serious harm on our roads. We are lucky that we intercepted these offences as they could have all proven to be fatal in the event of a collision.
“West Midlands Police remain committed to tackling road traffic offences and to keep our roads safe for the communities we serve. We work tirelessly with partner agencies so that together we can protect the public from death or serious injury on our roads.”
West Midlands Police said this activity will continue throughout the summer.
