National Highways’ Operation Pennine has seen police forces travel the M62 between Liverpool and Hull, using its unmarked HGV cabs to spot unsafe driving.
The most common offenders were drivers using mobile phones at the wheel – 86 in total. With their elevated position, camera equipped HGV cabs are ideal for spotting unsafe behaviour in all kinds of vehicles.
Greater Manchester Police found a common trend of overloading in their region with 66 vehicles being caught overweight (one of them pictured).
West Yorkshire officers used it to tracked a stolen car transporter to a nearby city where it was recovered. North West Commercial Vehicle Unit recovered a £15,000 civil penalty related to people smuggling.
The October 2023 operation involved Merseyside, Liverpool Ports Police, Cheshire, Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire forces. The North West Commercial Vehicle Unit was also on hand to patrol various stretches of the M62.
435 vehicles stopped (including 175 HGVs and 96 private vehicles)
375 offences recorded including:
- 86 drivers caught using mobile phones at the wheel
- 49 breaches of driving hours rules
- 34 people not wearing seatbelts
(Picture – National Highways)
