Police will get back in lorry to catch motorists breaking law

POLICE in Wales will catch drivers using their mobile phones by watching them from an unmarked lorry.

It comes after some forces in England started using double-decker buses to do the same thing.

In Wales, officers from across the four forces will use a handheld video camera in a HGV to catch those breaking the law.

Named Operation Tramline, it will see police target those texting or using mobile phones, driving dangerously and other motoring offences.

Both private and commercial vehicles will be monitored during the operation.

The operation was used by South Wales Police in April to catch drivers using a mobile phone on the M4 corridor.

During that week, 120 vehicles were stopped, 84 traffic offences were reported and 23 prohibition notices and 15 fixed penalty notices were issued.

There were also 14 cautions, with £2,760 in fines raised.

South Wales Police said they will be running the operation again over the next two months to catch drivers before Christmas.

In April, Inspector Steve Davies, from South Wales Police’s specialist operations department and Operation Tramline coordinator, said: “The ‘supercab’ will patrol the motorway and main trunk roads across Wales, and has been fitted with wideangle cameras to capture unsafe driving behaviour. They also have an unrestricted speed limiter, which means they can travel at speeds up to the national speed limit, and flashing lights have been installed for use by police forces in an emergency.

“The cabs allow police officers to film evidence of unsafe driving behaviour by pulling up alongside vehicles. Drivers are then pulled over by police cars following behind.

“We find that the vast majority of drivers are sensible behind the wheel but some are putting themselves and others at risk, therefore Operation Tramline will be a welcome addition to our officers’ daily work improving road safety across Wales.”