Police capture drivers eating noodles, watching TV and texting

Driver caught using his iPad as part of Operation Tramline Credit: Greater Manchester Police

Greater Manchester Police have been targeting dangerous and antisocial behaviour behind the wheel using a truck to be able to see into driver's cabs and vehicles. A total of 239 offences were recorded by traffic officers in just 12 days including a driver watching TV on a mobile phone, eating noodles and texting.

Working with Highways England, officers patrolled the Greater Manchester motorway network, filming the driving habits of motorists to spot and try and stop offences from their elevated position of the HGV cab.

Observations included 57 hand-held mobile phone offences and 56 drivers failing to wear a seatbelt. The operation resulted in five people being arrested, 179 traffic offence reports being issued and 30 fixed penalty notices issued to both UK and foreign drivers.

During the operation two motorway vehicles followed the HGV at distance to stop offenders. Drivers that could not be stopped were recorded and are being dealt with via a conditional offer in the postal system.