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Op Tramline, a project running across the country in partnership with National Highways, sees trained officers using an unmarked HGV to detect and deal with traffic offences as they happen. The height of the lorry means West Midlands Police officers can clearly see into other vehicles – and some of the things they did see were pretty shocking, including: · A lorry driver, transporting flammable liquids, holding a cup in one hand and a spoon in the other, eating a meal while driving. · A van driver seen rolling a suspected cannabis joint, who later tested positive for cannabis and cocaine. · Another van driver travelling at speed through traffic, with no hands on the steering wheel, whilst typing on his mobile phone. · A taxi being driven unprofessionally, where the driver turned out to be using his mobile phone. Of the 195 offences police dealt with, 50 were drivers using their mobile phone, while 34 were not wearing a seatbelt. They also recorded 11 insecure load offences, 11 drivers without insurance, and five drivers in prohibited vehicles using the outside lane. The patrols were carried out between Saturday 18 and Saturday 25 October across the West Midlands including on the M5, M6, M42, and A38(M). 139 traffic offence reports were issued, while ten vehicles were seized. Sergeant Sarah Phillips, from RPU, said: “We’re grateful to our partners at National Highways for working with us on Operation Tramline, which allows us to use the HGV to great effect. “As the numbers show, it has meant we’ve been able to detect and deal with offences happening in real-time, offences that are undoubtedly putting other road users at risk. “Some of the examples are truly shocking, and I hope they act as a reminder to drivers to think about their behaviour. "Our traffic officers are patrolling 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, to catch offenders and keep road users safe across the West Midlands.” National Highways Regional Safety Programme Manager, Marie Biddulph, said: “This year has seen the 10th anniversary of the launch of Operation Tramline – a decade working, with police, to persuade motorists to think carefully about their driving behaviours and ultimately to make our roads safer. “So it is disappointing to see some of the unsafe behaviours happening on our roads including 50 people using their mobile phone at the wheel. You’re four times more likely to be in a collision if using a phone at the wheel. “But we do know that these drivers, those prepared to put themselves and others at risk, are the minority. So we will continue to work with the police and road users to help us collectively achieve our long-term ambition that no-one is harmed on our roads.”
