Police target A500 and A50 as 116 drivers caught in crackdown

Police have caught out 116 rule-breaking drivers in a crackdown across the A500 and A50 – after hitting the road in an unmarked HGV. Police also targeted the A34, A38 and A449 during the operation and say the most common misdemeanours were not wearing a seat belt and using a phone behind the wheel. The five-day sting saw a total of 116 driving offences recorded across on the A-roads as the force continues its bid to improve safety on the county’s busy road network.

It comes after Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service[1] had previously revealed how crews were called to 726 crashes during 2022. Now officers have warned motorists of the ‘devastating effects’ that can be caused by not sticking to the rules of the road. READ: Madam, 33, admits managing Stoke brothel ‘for prostitution’[2]

Officers say that during the scheme the most common offence spotted was drivers not wearing seatbelt with 37 motorists caught out. Meanwhile 27 were seen using their phone while behind the wheel – including a trucker driving a 40-tonne HGV. The sting – overseen by Staffordshire Police’s[3] road policing unit RPU – also saw a stolen car being stopped in Stoke-on-Trent where four people were arrested.

Senior officers say such initiatives are ‘vital’ to improve the safety of Staffordshire’s busy road network. Other incidents saw four drivers caught going through red lights, two clocked speeding, four motorists not having MOT and insurance, 11 with insecure loads and three cars found to have illegal number plates. Various motorists were breathalysed and undertook drug swipes with one man arrested on suspicion of ‘drug driving’.

Police on the A500 (Image: Stoke Sentinel)

The initiative – Operation Tramline – sees officers use an unmarked HGV, owned by National Highways, to spot offences before radioing cops who can then pull over the offending driver.

The operation has been running for a number of years and back in 2017 The Sentinel reported how various drivers had been caught out and 14 cars were also seized after the A500 and A50 was targeted. Inspector Mark Joynson, of the RPU, says the force will continue with such crackdowns to improve safety. He said: “We’ve seen first-hand the devastating effects that road traffic offences can have as well as the disruption that can be caused to emergency services if roads are disrupted or blocked by negligent drivers.

“In some cases, offenders do not admit or recognise their negligence, particularly if they have developed bad habits over time such as travelling above the speed limit or not indicating at junctions.

Inspector Mark Joynson

“It’s one of the many reasons why it’s so vital that we continue to educate drivers on the importance of road traffic safety and take appropriate enforcement action where necessary.” Marie Biddulph, assistant regional safety coordinator with National Highways, says the HGV helps give officers an elevated position to spot rule breakers. Marie said: “We provide these unmarked HGV cabs to our police partners to help spot unsafe driving behaviour.

It isn’t about catching people out, it’s about stopping drivers putting themselves and others at risk. “A good day for us would be a day where no incidents of unsafe driving were recorded – we want people to be safe on our roads. “From the elevated position in our HGV cabs, police can identify that small minority of people who continue to drive unsafely.

We hope the realisation of this fact will make all motorists consider their driving behaviour.” 54 death notices from Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire this week[4] We saved GBP4.25 on our shopping at Sainsbury’s with the new Nectar card rules[5]

Families fear ‘out-of-control’ trees could fall on their homes[6]

Girl, 5, who broke leg called ‘drama queen’ by teachers as she screamed: “I heard my leg crack”[7]

McDonald’s to open in Crewe following GBP1.4m land deal[8]

References

1. ^ Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
2. ^ Madam, 33, admits managing Stoke brothel ‘for prostitution’ (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
3. ^ Staffordshire Police’s (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
4. ^ 54 death notices from Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire this week (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
5. ^ We saved GBP4.25 on our shopping at Sainsbury’s with the new Nectar card rules (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
6. ^ Families fear ‘out-of-control’ trees could fall on their homes (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
7. ^ Girl, 5, who broke leg called ‘drama queen’ by teachers as she screamed: “I heard my leg crack” (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
8. ^ McDonald’s to open in Crewe following GBP1.4m land deal (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)