44 Drivers Busted in Undercover HGV Sting on M4
Wiltshire Police have cracked down hard on motorway mayhem with a three-day undercover blitz using unmarked heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) on the M4. Operation Tramline, which ran from December 3 to 6, flagged up 44 offences including a driver nabbed for drug driving.
Drug Driver Caught in The Act
One driver was stopped for shoddy vehicle control but the crackdown didn’t end there. At Badbury Weighbridge, officers sniffed out a strong whiff of cannabis from his van. A failed roadside drug test led to his arrest on suspicion of drug driving. He’s now out under investigation.
PC Luke Hobbs from Wiltshire’s Roads Policing Unit said: “Cases like this prove how offences that seem minor can often reveal serious criminality. Operation Tramline allows us to effectively police every driver on the motorway.”
crackdown on the ‘Fatal Five’
Thanks to HGV cabs provided by National Highways, officers had a bird’s eye view of the M4. The mission? Target the notorious “fatal five” driving sins:
- Using a mobile phone at the wheel
- Drink or drug driving
- Speeding
- Not wearing a seat belt
- Careless driving
The biggest culprit? Drivers ditching their seat belts. Offenders slapped with £100 fines and sharp warnings on the dangers of leaving such a basic safety rule behind.
Alarming Seat Belt Stats
Recent government data from 2018 to 2022 shows a chilling 24% of fatal crash victims weren’t buckled up. PC Hobbs warned:
“You are far more likely to be seriously injured—or die—if you crash without wearing a seat belt. Drivers must consider not just their own safety but the impact on their families when they take such unnecessary risks.”
More Than Just Tickets
The operation also played a key role in Tactical Pursuit and Containment efforts. In a lighter moment, police briefly closed the M4 to rescue a stranded swan.
National Highways Back the Blitz
Jack Mason, Road Safety Team Manager for National Highways, added:
“The majority of road users drive safely and legally, but a small minority put themselves and others at risk. Thanks to the elevated position in the HGV, officers can spot unsafe driving behaviours and ensure those drivers face the consequences.”
More Action on the Horizon
Operation Tramline runs several times a year, sending a clear message: dangerous driving won’t slip under the radar. Wiltshire Police pledge to keep hunting down hotspots of reckless behaviour to keep the M4 safe for all.
