Wiltshire Police have launched Operation Tramline, using an unmarked heavy goods vehicle (HGV) to detect and combat crime along the M4 motorway between junctions 14 and 18. The initiative, aimed at targeting dangerous driving behaviours, gives officers a high vantage point to spot drivers committing offences.

During the operation, the unmarked HGV allowed officers to identify drivers using their mobile phones, failing to wear seat belts, and operating vehicles in poor condition. By using the elevated view from the HGV cab, police could safely and effectively monitor drivers of both cars and lorries.

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Once an offence is detected, officers in the unmarked vehicle communicate with marked police cars trailing behind, who then stop the offenders and take appropriate action.

Operation Tramline runs multiple times throughout the year and specifically targets the “fatal five” offences, which include: using a mobile phone while driving, drink or drug driving, speeding, failing to wear a seat belt, and careless driving. These behaviours significantly increase the risk of collisions and fatalities on the road.

Sgt Bott from Wiltshire’s Roads Policing Team highlighted the importance of the operation, stating, “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.”

He added, “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.”

Wiltshire Police’s efforts to improve road safety through Operation Tramline aim to reduce the number of accidents and save lives by holding dangerous drivers accountable for their actions.