Reckless drivers have been taken to task in a joint operation aimed at targeting the illegal use of mobile phones and other driving offences.
Sixty offences were recorded during the five-day operation after 59 vehicles were stopped in West Yorkshire, as part of Operation Tramline, a national joint initiative between police forces and Highways England.
Officers from West Yorkshire Police’s Safer Roads and Neighbourhood Support Team were out on the county’s roads in a HGV (heavy goods vehicle) filming the driving habits of other road users.
During the week of action, there were 27 offences for driving while using a hand-held mobile phone and six motorists were stopped for not being in proper control of their vehicle. 41 drivers of HGVs were stopped and 8 offences were recorded for insecure loads. 15 fixed penalty notices were issued and 40 traffic offence reports were issued.
Sergeant Steve Suggitt, of West Yorkshire Police’s Safer Roads and Neighbourhood Support Team, said: “This operation was not about penalising HGV or any other type of commercial vehicle driver, it’s about keeping our roads safe for everyone and making people aware of road safety.
“Driving any fully loaded commercial vehicle carries an additional burden of responsibility and this is about making drivers aware of those responsibilities and reducing road casualties.
“The consequences of taking your eyes off the road, even for a matter of seconds, can be devastating, even more so if you are at the wheel of a lorry or other large vehicle.
“At 30 MPH a vehicle travels 100 feet in 2.3 seconds. That’s equivalent to the length of Boeing 737 aircraft. HGV’s are potential killing machines.”
“The message is simple. Keep your phones out of reach and out of sight.”
