Police collar HGV drivers not wearing seatbelts

Truck drivers on the M1 have been fined after police spotted some wearing high-vis vests to disguise the fact they weren't wearing seatbelts. The offenders were caught during a week-long operation by Nottinghamshire Police, who used the cab of an unmarked HGV to get a better view of what was happening on the road. From their elevated position, officers saw drivers using mobile phones, texting and even video calling while behind the wheel.

Follow-up checks by the DVSA at Trowell Services found other offences too, including a badly overloaded vehicle and damaged tyres. One van driver landed himself in extra trouble after making a string of rude gestures at the unmarked HGV, not realising it was full of traffic officers. He was pulled over by a marked car, fined, and given some "words of advice" along with a reminder to behave himself.

PC Pearce Riley said: "Whilst this incident understandably caused some amusement among the team, the potential consequences of not wearing a seatbelt really are no laughing matter.

"Had this man been involved in a motorway collision, his chances of walking away uninjured - or even walking away at all - would have been greatly reduced."