Northamptonshire: Undercover HGV helps police spot 179 M1 offences

More than 1,700 vehicles were filmed by officers in the unmarked cab

Police officers filming from an unmarked lorry cab have recorded 179 offences on the M1.

The so-called HGV super cab - on loan from National Highways - patrolled the motorway between junctions 15 and 18 for five days earlier this month.

The police observed 58 people who were not wearing a seat belt and 46 who were using a mobile phone while driving.

Police said one man was found to be driving a mobile crane without an official permit.

During the operation, the cab pulled alongside vehicles to film any illegal behaviour

Northamptonshire Police said the operation was intended to target the "fatal five" offences, which were responsible for the most deaths and serious injuries on roads.

These included careless driving, excessive speed, using a mobile phone behind the wheel, not wearing a seat belt, and driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

• Police use unmarked HGV to spot driving offences

The HGV super cab has a derestricted speed limiter, which means it can travel at speeds up to the national speed limit, and has flashing lights for use in an emergency.

During the operation, the cab pulled alongside vehicles to film any illegal behaviour.

A total of 46 drivers were filmed using their mobile phones while driving

Offenders' vehicles were then pulled over a short distance away by a police car.

Among the offences were:

• Forty-six drivers and 12 passengers not wearing a seat belt

• Forty-six drivers using a mobile phone while behind the wheel

• Twenty-six driving without due care and attention

• Four drivers exceeding the speed limit

• Five vehicles seized for driving with no insurance

Some drivers were issued with fixed penalties, while other cases would be dealt with through the court system.

A trailer with an insecure load of hay preparing to join the M1 was spotted during a previous unmarked cab operation.

A further 20 drivers were stopped for having illegal window tints, number plates and not being in the position to have full view. A further six were reported for insecure, dangerous loads and six others for abnormal loads.

One driver was spotted using his mobile phone whilst driving a mobile crane and it later transpired that he did not have a movement order allowing him to take the vehicle from Essex to South Yorkshire.

PC Mo Allsopp-Clarke, of the Northamptonshire Police's safer roads team, said: "It is always disappointing to find so many drivers prepared to put their livelihoods at risk for the sake of not wearing a seat belt or checking their mobile phones."