Operation Tramline: Using an unmarked HGV to combat crime on the M4

An unmarked HGV caught drivers using their mobile phones, not wearing a seat belt and keeping cars in dangerous condition during a motorway operation.

Operation Tramline involves officers using an unmarked heavy goods vehicle (HGV) to spot drivers committing offences on the M4 between junctions 14 and 18.

The HGV gives us an elevated view into cars and lorries so we can identify those committing offences.

Once the spotter has seen and captured evidence of a driver breaking the law, the trailing convoy of marked police cars is informed and the offender is safely stopped.

This process enables us to effectively police all types of vehicles on the motorway.

Operation Tramline runs multiple times a year and aims to target drivers who commit any of the fatal five offences, which are: driving while using a mobile phone, drink/drug driving, driving at excess speed, failing to wear a seat belt and careless driving.

Sgt Bott, from Wiltshire’s Roads Policing Team, said: “The large policing presence which descended on the M4 was a strong deterrent to any would-be offenders.

“While some of the offences may seem insignificant, they are being committed by people controlling vehicles weighing several tonnes when a momentary lapse in concentration could result in a fatal collision.

“Operation Tramline sends a strong message to those individuals – you are not invisible from the height of your HGV cab, and you will face prosecution if you are caught breaking the law.”