Truck driver with foot on dashboard is among 4,000 drivers caught by unmarked HGV Cab

Highways England has released footage of a <%$Linker:2External<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-16"?><dictionary />000link-external truck driverYoutube video linkfalsehttps://www.youtube.com/watchfalsefalse%> checking his phone while his right foot was on the dashboard. Spotted by Humberside Police, the driver was travelling from the M18 onto the M62 near Goole and is one of 4000 dangerous drivers on UK roads caught by a single unmarked HGV cab over a two year period.
 
Another driver was pulled over by Devon and Cornwall Police and was found to have sent 10 replies to 10 texts within one hour and a driver in Surrey was seen trying to put toothpaste on a toothbrush. In the East Midlands, a driver was spotted steering with his knees while he ate his lunch and used his mobile phone.

The elevated position of the cab allows police officers to film the drivers by pulling up alongside vehicles on motorways and major A roads. Drivers are then pulled over by police cars following behind.

Latest statistics show that mobile phone use is a factor in an average of two deaths on the roads every month, with 124 people losing their lives over the past five years and 521 suffering a serious injury. In addition, nearly two thirds of stopped drivers were illegally using a mobile phone while driving, putting themselves and others at risk.
 
In total, 28 police forces have taken part in the HGV cab safety initiative since it began in April 2015, pulling over 4,176 drivers in relation to 5,039 offences. Officers gave verbal advice to 388 drivers, issued 838 fixed or graduated penalty notices, and filed 3,318 traffic offence reports – usually requiring attendance at a driver education course. There were also 113 prosecutions for more serious offences. Reasons for stopping drivers include 2,508 using their mobile phones, 901 for not wearing seatbelts, 253 for not being in proper control of their vehicles, and for speeding 249 were pulled over.

A new Think! road safety <%$Linker:2External<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-16"?><dictionary />000link-external videoThink! Youtube videofalsehttps://www.youtube.com/watchfalsefalse%>, launched last month, showed the dangers of using your phone while driving. It has been used to highlight how much drivers miss if they are distracted by looking at their handheld phone.

National Police Chiefs’ Council Lead for Roads Policing, chief constable Anthony Bangham, said: “Police forces are committed to keeping our roads safe and partnership with Highways England is absolutely crucial for that, as we can see from the thousands of offences detected by the HGV cab. Together with targeted local action by police officers, this has become an important element of our intelligence-led operations against dangerous driving.

“Driving whilst distracted is completely unacceptable and police are also making use of the tougher new penalties to stop this dangerous behaviour by ensuring that offenders face the full weight of law.

“People have to think about the consequences of their actions - a moment’s distraction can change innocent lives. It is never a risk worth taking.”