HGV cab catches almost 2,700 dangerous drivers on England’s roads

Irresponsible drivers have been caught breaking the law and endangering lives in a new safety initiative. Over the past 16 months, almost 2,700 drivers have been stopped for unsafe driving by a HGV cab, loaned by 8101 Highways England to police forces across England.
 
The elevated position of the cab allows police officers to film unsafe driving behaviour. Drivers are then pulled over by police cars following behind.
 
The initiative has proved so successful that the cab was demonstrated to police forces from across Europe at the European Traffic Police Network (650 TISPOL) annual road safety conference at Manchester Airport on Wednesday 5 October.
 
One man in Surrey told officers he needed to use his mobile phone to call his new girlfriend after ‘their song’ came on the radio. Another driver in Kent was spotted watching a DVD while at the wheel; a motorist in Surrey was seen boiling water in a kettle on his dashboard; and a driver in Hampshire was seen reading a book. Video footage released by Cheshire Police shows a driver on two mobile phones at the same time
 
Since the safety scheme began in April 2015, 3,494 offences have been spotted. Nearly half related to the unsafe use of mobile phones and over a fifth involved drivers not wearing seatbelts.
 
A total of 25 police forces took part in the HGV safety cab initiative during its first 16 months. Officers gave verbal advice to 247 drivers, issued 693 fixed or graduated penalty notices, and filed 2,186 traffic offence reports – usually requiring drivers to attend a driver education course. There were also 34 prosecutions for more serious offences. Reasons for stopping drivers included using mobile phones, not wearing seatbelts, not in proper control of a vehicle, speeding and driving under the influence of drink or drugs.

In September, Transport Secretary Chris Grayling announced motorists using their mobile phones while driving will soon face much tougher penalties. Anyone calling, texting or using an app while at the wheel will face higher on the spot fines and more points on their licence than they do today.