Motorists on the M1 were met with a highly unusual sight earlier this month, when a large lorry was spotted carrying an entire van protruding awkwardly from its rear.

The bizarre scene unfolded on the morning of April 2, during a pre-planned police initiative known as Operation Tramline—a national road safety campaign conducted in partnership with the Highways Agency. Officers were patrolling from the cab of an unmarked HGV when they clocked the dangerously overloaded lorry.

The vehicle, which was seen travelling with the rear doors wide open and a van sticking out the back, was later stopped by police on the A42. Officers immediately deemed the setup unsafe.

A spokesperson for the force said:

“The driver was issued with a Traffic Offence Report for driving an overweight vehicle and for a Tachograph offence. The lorry was prohibited from leaving the scene until the van was removed and legally transported from the roadside.”

Both the lorry and the van were seized at the scene.

Operation Tramline, which ran from Monday 31 March to Friday 4 April, involved officers using a high-visibility HGV cab to gain an elevated view of drivers’ behaviour. The tactic is designed to detect dangerous or careless driving that may not be visible from the road level.

During the week-long operation, officers pulled over 78 vehicles for a range of offences including:

• Speeding

• Mobile phone use

• Failing to wear a seatbelt

• Driving without insurance

• Driving without due care and attention

Police said the van-in-a-lorry case was one of the more “eye-catching” offences they encountered, but served as a strong reminder of the need for safe and legal cargo transport on UK roads.

Officers are encouraging all drivers—especially those operating heavy goods vehicles—to ensure their vehicles are loaded correctly, maintained regularly, and operated within the law.