A special operation on Greater Manchester's motorways has revealed drivers committed more than 150 offences in the space of four days.

Patrolling the M62, M60 and M56, Greater Manchester Police officers identified 172 driving offences over a four-day period last month.

Operation Tramline, which has been running since 2015, sees police operate from a HGV tractor unit to catch drivers offending behind the wheel.

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The higher vantage point helps the force to look directly into the cabs of lorry drivers as well as those driving cars and vans.

The camera caught distracted drivers using a mobile phone, not wearing a seatbelt and driving without due care and attention. 

The 172 traffic offence reports included:

  • 66 for crossing the central verge
  • 50 for using a mobile phone behind the wheel
  • 21 for Red Automatic Traffic Signals
  • 16 for not wearing a seatbelt
  • 9 for construction and use (roadworthiness offences)
  • 4 for insecure load or weight
  • 2 for due care and attention
  • 1 for driver not in proper control of vehicle
  • 1 for prohibited vehicle in offside lane
  • 1 for stopping on the hard shoulder
  • 1 for no insurance

One man was arrested for various road traffic offences during the operation, due to not being able to confirm ID and driving without insurance and without a licence while having false number plates.

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Sergeant Jacques at GMP’s Commercial Vehicle Unit said: “We have once again been out on Greater Manchester’s motorways taking action against those who feel they are above the law.

“172 offences in four days is unacceptable, and I am pleased that we have issued tickets to these individuals, hopefully this will deter them from breaking the law again.

“People need to realise that when they get behind the wheel of a vehicle they are driving a potentially deadly weapon and they need to take responsibility for their own behaviour and the safety of others.

“We have a lot more of these operations planned in for the remainder of the year, so don’t be surprised if you receive a ticket through the post or at the roadside if you are committing an offence.”

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