Maniac motorway drivers caught applying make-up, using laptops and eating takeaways at wheel

In a stunning display of reckless driving, a series of outrageous motorway incidents have prompted a major crackdown on the M6.[1] The shocking behaviour included a driver putting on a full face of make-up while swerving between lanes, completely oblivious to watching police officers. Another motorist was spotted steering his van with his knees while eating a takeaway.

These jaw-dropping scenes are just a fraction of what prompted a “week-long operation” dubbed Operation Vertebrae. Over 230 motorists were caught committing a range of dangerous offences along the M6 – the UK’s longest motorway. Using unmarked National Highways HGVs[2], officers patrolled the motorway using the elevated viewpoint to see into cabs and vehicles.

Reckless driving prompted a “week-long operation” dubbed as Operation Vertebrae

The most frequent violations were using mobile phones (81 offences) and not wearing seatbelts (54 cases).

This operation followed the release of shocking footage by National Highways and police partners, showcasing some of the most outrageous behaviours witnessed by officers from Operation Tramline cabs. Among the other eye-opening offences, one driver was caught using a laptop with a mobile phone in her hand.

Officers patrolled the motorway using the elevated viewpoint to see into cabs and vehicles

Since Operation Tramline’s launch in 2015, over 46,150 offences have been recorded with the top two infractions remain not wearing a seatbelt (13,562 cases) and using a mobile phone while driving (11,965 cases). The crackdown aimed to tackle “unsafe drivers” and “reduce incidents” on the motorway.

National Highways reports handling over 200 incidents on the M6 every day, totalling 74,960 in 2023, including 3,808 traffic collisions. In addition to the unmarked cab operations, the North West Commercial Vehicle Unit stopped 67 vehicles, uncovering 61 offences including weight issues, non-compliance with drivers’ hours regulation, mobile phone use, seatbelt violations, and even drugs/drink driving. The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) also conducted inspections at Cuerden, Lancashire, and Doxey in Staffordshire, uncovering 10 overloaded vehicles, drivers operating beyond their permitted hours, and issues like missing licences, documents, and tachographs.

The crackdown aimed to tackle “unsafe drivers” and “reduce incidents” on the motorway

A total of 23 immediate HGV prohibitions were issued, requiring immediate fixes before vehicles could resume their journey.

National Highways Regional Road Safety Programme Manager, Lisa Scott, commented: “We know that it is a minority of drivers who put themselves at risk but every single person using their mobile phone at the wheel or not putting on their seatbelt is one too many – we want everyone using our roads to get home safely.”

Operation Vertebrae saw participation from multiple forces, including Lancashire, Cumbria, Merseyside, Greater Manchester[3], Cheshire, Warwickshire Police[4], Central Motorway Police Group, North West Motorway Policing Group Commercial Vehicle Unit, Ports Police, and various local road safety partnerships and organisations.

References

1. ^ M6. (www.mirror.co.uk)
2. ^ National Highways HGVs (www.mirror.co.uk)
3. ^ Manchester (www.mirror.co.uk)
4. ^ Warwickshire Police (www.mirror.co.uk)