Over 30 vehicles stopped by police in road safety operation

North Wales Police stopped more than 30 vehicles on the A55, A483 and A494 earlier this month as part of Operation Tramline.

The operation uses an elevated HGV cab, giving officers a clearer view of drivers in passing vehicles.

Officers detected drivers using mobile phones behind the wheel, failing to wear a seatbelt and vehicles carrying insecure loads. Tickets and graduated fixed penalty notices were issued to drivers caught driving dangerously.

The elevated vehicle is also used to spot mobile phone usage of drivers of larger vehicles, including HGVs and LGVs.

Sergeant Danny Rees, of the Roads Crime Unit, said: “It is disappointing that we continue to see drivers putting themselves and other road users at risk through behaviour that is entirely avoidable.

“What is particularly concerning is that we continue to see professional drivers, including HGV and LGV drivers, using mobile phones whilst driving.

“When you are behind the wheel, your attention should be on the road. A phone call, message or notification can wait. Your safety, and the safety of everyone else using the road, cannot.

“Operation Tramline gives our officers an excellent vantage point to identify dangerous behaviour, and we will continue to take action where drivers put themselves and others at risk.”

National Highways regional safety programme manager Marie Biddulph said: “We know that the majority of people who use our roads drive safely but there remains a minority who continue to put themselves and others at risk.

“Research shows you are four times more likely to be in a crash if you use your phone. We all need to play our part in keeping our roads as safe as they can be.

“So National Highways will continue to work with our police partners through initiatives such as Operation Tramline to encourage road users to think about their driving behaviours.

North Wales Police is reminding drivers to wear a seatbelt, to make sure any load is securely restrained, and to put mobile phones away before setting off. The force said the rules apply whether someone is driving a car, van, LGV or HGV.

Operation Tramline was first trialled by National Highways in 2015 with a single HGV cab. It has since expanded to three cabs used by police forces across the north, Midlands and south of England, and has supported 36 police forces in identifying more than 61,418 offences since it launched.