Nottinghamshire Police will be among the forces to crack down on illegal driving on the M1 after a driver was caught steering a huge car transporter with just his elbow. National Highways released footage of the incident on the M40 near Gaydon in Warwickshire.
The Government-owned company responsible for England’s motorways and major A roads said the driver was initially “oblivious” to the police officers filming him as they drove alongside his car-carrying vehicle in an unmarked HGV cab. But he quickly put both hands firmly on the wheel when they caught his attention – and notified their colleagues travelling behind to pull the vehicle over.
Footage of a number of "shocking" incidents captured by police officers in the unmarked cabs has been released by National Highways today ahead of a week of action along the length of the M1. Officers from eight different police forces - including Nottinghamshire Police - will be patrolling the motorway between London and Leeds from Monday, March 6 to Sunday, March 12, looking out for incidents of illegal driving.
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This was one of three incidents from which footage was released showing distracted driving in late January and early February. A man was filmed texting on a mobile phone and not wearing a seatbelt while driving a horsebox on the A46 Coventry Eastern Bypass.
Another driver was also caught on camera holding up her mobile phone in her right hand as she drove along the motorway – and the moment she was pulled over by Warwickshire Police officers. National Highways said more than 33,254 offences have been recorded since the ‘Operation Tramline’ unmarked HGV cabs safety initiative was launched in 2015.
And some 30,380 vehicles have been stopped by police. The most common offences are not wearing a seatbelt (9,962) and using a mobile phone (8,368) followed by 2,257 who were not in proper control of their vehicle.
The aim of the multi-agency Week of Action on the M1 – which has been labelled Operation Freeway - is to reduce the number of incidents on the motorway. In 2022 there were 73,593 incidents on the M1 – that is more than 200 incidents every single day. There were 4,087 traffic collisions on the motorway last year.
National Highways Head of Road Safety, Jeremy Phillips, said: “We are committed to reducing the number of people killed or seriously injured while travelling on our roads by 50% by 2025 and we have a long term ambition for zero harm. To achieve that we need to tackle the unsafe driving behaviour that we sadly still encounter.
“Hundreds of thousands of drivers use our roads every day and the vast majority are sensible behind the wheel but some are putting themselves and others at risk. Through this week of action, we want to encourage motorists to think about their driving and to adopt safer behaviours.
“But those who continue to pose a risk should be aware that we are working with our police partners to make sure they are spotted and prevented from causing serious harm to themselves or others.”
Police forces taking part in Operation Freeway are – West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Northamptonshire, Hertfordshire, Thames Valley and Bedfordshire, as well as the Leicestershire Road Safety Partnership. National Police Chiefs’ Council Lead for Roads Policing Operations, Commander Kyle Gordon, said: "We are pleased to be working with our key partner National Highways once again as we work to reduce the danger caused on one of our busiest roads, and beyond, by drivers who allow themselves to be distracted while driving.
"Too many people are killed or seriously injured on our roads every year. My officers have to visit the families of those killed on our roads, 5 times a day, every day of the week and every month of the year. I am very happy to support all initiatives that can help reduce these numbers."
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