Hundreds of driving offences caught by police lorry

Suffolk Police's operation stopped 155 vehicles at the end of January

A police operation that made use of a lorry to target offending drivers detected 169 offences over a five-day period.

Suffolk Police was provided with a HGV by National Highways between 27 and 31 January.

Operation Tramline allowed officers to patrol roads including the A14, A12 and A11 using the elevated position to detect drivers of all types of vehicles that were committing offences.

PC Terry Henry, of the commercial vehicle unit, said the operation was a "productive week of action".

A total of 155 vehicles were stopped including 55 HGVs and 44 smaller goods vehicles.

One person was arrested on suspicion of drug-driving while others were issued with Traffic Offence Reports for offences like not wearing a seatbelt, using a mobile phone, not being in proper control and insecure loads.

"Among the 36 people caught using a mobile phone, one of them thought it would be funny to film us whilst he was driving at 70mph - until he realised who we were," PC Henry said.

"We didn't need to be expert lip readers to decipher the words that came out of his mouth when he did realise.

"He will now receive a £200 fine and six points for his reckless actions."

The officer added that the offences seen during the operation "could be a matter of life and death".

'No excuse'

Suffolk's Police and Crime Commissioner, Tim Passmore, said the force's results were "impressive".

"Although I'm absolutely staggered by the mindless stupidity of so many drivers risking their own lives, and the lives of others with their unacceptable behaviour behind the wheel," he added.

"I find it very disappointing that drivers still need to be reminded about something as obvious as putting on a seat belt or not using a mobile phone – there really is no excuse for that at all."

National Highways road safety programme manager, Lawrence Seager, said while it was the minority of drivers that put themselves and others at risk, the agency needed "everyone to consider their driving behaviours so we can all get home safely".