Unmarked lorry traps truckers on phones

The large goods vehicle tractor unit has been patrolling main roads on both banks of the Humber in a joint operation between Humberside Police and Safer Roads Humber.

A total of 55 offences were recorded towards the end of the three-day operation yesterday. Prosecutions are being considered for all of these, while a further two drivers were given verbal warnings at the side of the road.

Pc Barry Gardner, casualty reduction officer at Humberside Police, said: “It’s very tempting to call or text work or loved ones to give them an update of where you are but it is illegal and it is dangerous. We are enforcing in a similar sized vehicle which enables us to see into the cab of a goods vehicle to see what the driver is doing.

“Hopefully, being professional drivers, we will be able to demonstrate that the majority of people are driving in a safe and legal manner.

“However, anyone prosecuted using a hand-held phone while driving or waiting in traffic with the engine running can receive a £60 fine and three penalty points on their licence.

“Our message to drivers is to switch off your phone while driving. If you absolutely have to make a call or send a text, pull into a lay-by to do it and switch your phone off when you’ve finished.”

He added: “I’m never surprised by what I come across. I’m pleased the majority of drivers we have seen have been competent and professional and diligent in their duties.

“We have seen 50-odd offences out of thousands of lorries and it’s the small minority that are causing an issue, but unfortunately when these issues cause crashes in a lorry it tends to go wrong big-style.”