Lorry Caught Carrying Van Sticking Out the Back on M1
Motorists on the M1 were stunned earlier this month when they spotted a huge lorry hauling a whole van awkwardly sticking out from its rear.
Dangerous Haul Spotted During Police Operation
The bizarre sight happened on the morning of April 2, during Operation Tramline—a national road safety campaign run with the Highways Agency. Police, watching from an unmarked HGV cab, noticed the dangerously overloaded lorry on the move.
The lorry had its rear doors wide open with the van protruding out dangerously. Officers stopped the vehicle soon after on the A42 and called it an unsafe setup.
“The driver was issued with a Traffic Offence Report for driving an overweight vehicle and a Tachograph offence. The lorry was banned from leaving until the van was safely and legally removed from the roadside,” a police spokesperson said.
Both vehicles were seized at the scene.
Operation Tramline Targets Road Safety Violations
The operation ran from March 31 to April 4. Police used a high-visibility HGV cab to get a bird’s eye view of drivers’ behaviour, catching offences invisible from road level.
Officers stopped 78 vehicles during the week-long crackdown for:
- Speeding
- Mobile phone use while driving
- Failing to wear a seatbelt
- Driving without insurance
- Driving without due care and attention
The van stuck out from the lorry was one of the most eye-catching breaches but highlights the critical need for safe and legal cargo transport across UK roads.
Police urged all drivers, especially HGV operators, to load their vehicles properly, keep up regular maintenance, and stay within the law to keep everyone safe.
