THOUSANDS of motorists have been caught breaking the law thanks to the covert use of a HGV cab - and it's going on patrol in the region from today.
Since the launch of Operation Tramline in 2015, National Highways HGV cabs have been operating across the country to capture footage of motoring offences along some of the UK’s busiest roads.
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More than 26,000 offences have been recorded so far, including drivers using phones at the wheel, people not wearing seatbelts and speeding.
The cabs are now being used as part of a multi-agency campaign on the A1 in the region, running from today (Monday, March 21) through to April 1, which aims to reduce the number of crashes on the busy route and highlight the risks of dangerous driving.
Under the banner of Operation Mainline, the campaign takes place along the A1 from Northumberland down to North Yorkshire and involves Northumbria, Durham and North Yorkshire police.
In addition to the cab patrols, vehicle checks will also be carried out at several locations by the DVSA and Health and Safety Executive.
National Highways Traffic Officers will visit motorway service areas at Washington, Wetherby and Skelton Lake to offer advice to drivers such as how to carry out basic vehicle maintenance.
Superintendent Emma Aldred, Head of Specialist Operations at North Yorkshire Police, said: “As police officers, we see too many people taking serious risks on our roads – and those risks can, and often do, cost lives.
“We are pleased to join Northumbria Police and Durham Constabulary in working with National Highways to create a really robust team, in order to target those who break the law on our road network.
“This operation has shown remarkable results previously and we know this time will be no different.
“Officers will be covering the stretch of the A1 24/7 and will not let up in their efforts to target those who have no regards for others on our roads.”
Inspector Kevin Salter from Durham and Cleveland Specialist Operations Unit added: “It is important for us to work with neighbouring forces to keep our road networks safe for everyone to use especially as drivers regularly cross force borders.
“By carrying out these operations together, we are able to engage and educate drivers on a larger scale about the importance of driving safely, and not becoming another statistic.
“We would much rather engage with road users to prevent incidents that have to deal with the aftermath of a tragic incident.”
Among the motorists previously caught by the campaign in the region was a van driver on the A1 near Wetherby who was using his mobile phone at the wheel.
When he realised he was being filmed, he then made an offensive gesture to the camera, not realising the person filming him was a North Yorkshire Police officer.
The driver was handed six penalty points and a £200 fine for not wearing a seatbelt and using a mobile phone.
National Highways Regional Director Simon Boyle said the Operation Tramline cabs are an important part of the company’s commitment to tackling dangerous driving.
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