For a decade, UK roads have seen a significant effort to curb unsafe driving practices through Operation Tramline, a pioneering safety initiative. Launched as a trial ten years ago, the operation utilizes unmarked heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) staffed by undercover police officers to monitor driver behavior and identify violations.
Over the past decade, these elevated vantage points have allowed officers from 35 different police forces across the country to document more than 51,500 driving offenses. This has resulted in substantial fines for countless motorists.
The operation itself has involved a considerable investment of time and resources, with law enforcement accumulating approximately 13,000 hours patrolling in these unmarked vehicles.
Common Offences Observed:
- Failure to wear a seatbelt: 14,861 instances
- Using a mobile phone while driving: 13,553 instances
These two offenses alone account for over half (54%) of all recorded violations between 2015 and 2024.
The risks associated with these behaviors are stark. Statistics highlight that drivers not wearing a seatbelt are twice as likely to die in a collision, while using a mobile phone behind the wheel increases the likelihood of an accident by four times. Consequences for using a mobile phone while driving include a £200 fine and six penalty points on a driver’s license.
Sheena Hague, Director of Road Safety at National Highways, emphasized the campaign’s purpose: “The choices people make can have such a devastating and far-reaching impact on people’s lives.” She noted that Operation Tramline aims to “remind motorists to think carefully about their driving behaviors behind the wheel.”
Lilian Greenwood, Future Roads Minister, echoed this sentiment stating, “Dangerous driving puts everyone on our roads in danger,” highlighting the importance of Operation Tramline in addressing this critical issue.
Data from the Department for Transport further underscores these concerns. Between 2018 and 2022, a concerning 24% of car occupant fatalities involved individuals not wearing seatbelts.
Chief Constable Jo Shiner, leading roads policing for the National Police Chiefs’ Council, condemned distracted driving as “incredibly dangerous and selfish,” adding that “the results from Operation Tramline speak for themselves in showing just how valuable it is.”
Breakdown of Vehicles Stopped:
- 40% were HGVs
- 30% were vans
- 30% were cars
Each unmarked HGV cab is crewed by a specially trained officer and at least one “spotter” responsible for identifying and documenting infractions.
As per Rule 99 of the Highway Code
, “You MUST wear a seat belt in cars, vans and other goods vehicles if one is fitted. Adults and children aged 14 years and over MUST use a seat belt or child restraint, where fitted, when seated in minibuses, buses and coaches.”
