A three-day operation using unmarked heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) on the M4 has resulted in 44 offences being recorded, including a driver arrested on suspicion of drug driving. The operation, named Operation Tramline, ran from December 3 to 6 and targeted dangerous and illegal driving behaviors.
Drug Driver Arrested
One notable arrest involved a driver initially stopped for failing to maintain proper control of his vehicle. Upon returning to the Badbury Weighbridge, officers detected a strong smell of cannabis from his van. The driver failed a roadside drug test and was arrested on suspicion of drug driving. He has since been released under investigation.
PC Luke Hobbs from Wiltshire’s Roads Policing Unit commented:
“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.”
Offences Recorded
The operation used HGV cabs provided by National Highways, enabling officers to observe driver behavior from an elevated position. The initiative aims to tackle the “fatal five” driving offences:
- Driving while using a mobile phone
- Drink or drug driving
- Driving at excess speed
- Failing to wear a seat belt
- Careless driving
The most common offence during the operation was drivers failing to wear seat belts. Offenders were issued £100 Fixed Penalty Notices and given stern warnings about the risks of not using this basic safety measure.
Data on Seat Belt Use
Government data from 2018 to 2022 reveals that 24% of those who died in car crashes were not wearing a seat belt. PC Hobbs emphasized the consequences:
“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.”
Other Notable Incidents
During the operation, officers also supported Tactical Pursuit and Containment maneuvers and temporarily closed the M4 to rescue a swan.
National Highways Statement
Jack Mason, National Highways Engineering Team Manager for Road Safety, said:
“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 behaviors and ensure those drivers face the consequences.”
About Operation Tramline
Operation Tramline runs multiple times a year and serves as a reminder to drivers that unsafe and illegal driving behaviors will not go unnoticed. Motorists are encouraged to consider the safety of themselves and others while traveling on the roads.
Further operations are planned to continue tackling dangerous driving and promoting road safety.
