Unmarked fleet of HGVs help police spot 51,500 driving offences (video)

Police officers using a National Highways fleet of unmarked heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) have spotted more than 51,500 offences from their elevated cabs.

Called Operation Tramline, officers from 35 different police forces have used the fleet of three plain white HGV tractor units since the initiative was first launched in 2015.

To mark the 10th anniversary, Fleet News joined officers from Lincolnshire Police to see firsthand how police use the trucks to catch drivers flouting the law.  

The unmarked HGV cab is driven by a trained officer with at least one ‘spotter’ alongside. He or she will identify if an offence is being committed before recording it. 

Vehicle registration details, time and location are also taken down in a written record, while it is then reported to one of the support police vehicles so the driver can be stopped. 

The most common offences recorded over the past decade are not wearing a seatbelt (14,861) and using a mobile phone (13,553). 

“Drivers of cars, vans and pick-ups are where the numbers are highest,” Sgt Dan Pascoe, Surrey Police

Together these offences make up more than half (54%) of the total number of offences recorded by police between 2015 and 2024.

National Highways director of road safety, Sheena Hague, said: “We know that driver distraction, such as using a mobile phone, and not wearing a seatbelt are key factors in collisions which result in people being seriously injured or killed on our roads.  

“Our goal through Operation Tramline has always been to remind motorists to think carefully about their driving behaviours behind the wheel. The choices people make can have such a devastating and far-reaching impact on people’s lives.

“It is disappointing that there are still a minority of people who continue to put themselves and others at risk and we will continue working with the police through Operation Tramline and other campaigns to deter unsafe driving.”

National Highways has released 10 incidents captured by officers using the cabs to mark the safety campaign’s 10th anniversary (watch video below).

Some 13,000 hours have been racked up by police since officers from the Surrey force took out the first HGV in 2015. 

New footage, released today, reveals three drivers spotted without their hands on the wheel and using their mobile phones when Surrey Police patrolled in the National Highways HGV cab last month (March 2025), 10 years after their first outing.

Future of roads minister, Lilian Greenwood, said: “Dangerous driving puts everyone on our roads in danger, and Operation Tramline plays a vital role in tackling this issue.

“While our roads are among the safest in the world, we are committed to improving road safety, and our recent Click! Think! Campaign, which specifically targets young men, reminds drivers and passengers to wear their seatbelts at all times.”

One of the first officers to ever go out in the Operation Tramline HGV in March 2015 was Sgt Dan Pascoe (pictured below).

At the time, he was a young PC, he is now in charge of the operation for Surrey Police and Sussex Police.

He said: “I was working in the roads policing team and volunteered to go out in the Operation Tramline HGV, I have been involved ever since.

“The truck gives us an invaluable observation point. Vehicles have been getting progressively higher over the years, but this cab is a golden ticket enabling us to see over into pretty much every vehicle.”

The initial focus of the campaign was spotting people on their phones although forces look for all offences now. 

Sgt Pascoe believes the campaign has helped reduce the number of people using their mobile phones.

“We have definitely seen a significant tail-off,” continued Pasco. “We may never have a zero month unfortunately, but the message is certainly getting through.

“Drivers of cars, vans and pick-ups are where the numbers are highest. It’s not as high as it used to be, but we haven’t got to the point yet where it is seen as socially unacceptable.”

He added: “I believe we are making a difference with Operation Tramline. 

“How do you measure how many collisions you have prevented? We can’t. But you are four more times more likely to die in a crash if you are on your phone, so for every 100 distracted drivers we have stopped we could have prevented 25 collisions.”

DfT road casualty statistics show that, based on data for 2018 to 2022, 24% of car occupant fatalities were not wearing a seatbelt. 

Motorists are also four times more like to be in a crash if using a mobile phone while driving.

Chief Constable Jo Shiner, the National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for roads policing, said: “Driving while distracted is incredibly dangerous and selfish, putting many lives at risk and as the statistics show, it can all too often end in tragedy. 

“Proactive work to tackle this and the other fatal four driving behaviours is vitally important in improving the safety of our roads, as well as educating road users to think twice about their actions. 

“The results from Operation Tramline speak for themselves in showing just how valuable it is and how the perspective from the truck cab enhances officers’ view of the road.

“It also shows great partnership working which is absolutely key to making our roads safer for everyone.”

Read how to create a robust driver training strategy.