Shocking moment driver caught steering huge car transporter with his elbow on M40 in Warwickshire
Pictures from YouTube/National Highways
This shocking footage shows the moment a driver used just one elbow to control a heavily-laden car transporter on the M40 in Warwickshire.
The driver was seemingly oblivious to police officers driving alongside him in one of National Highways’ unmarked HGV cabs, on the carriageway near Gaydon.
He quickly put both hands firmly on the wheel when they caught his attention – and notified their colleagues travelling behind to pull the vehicle over.
Footage of a number of incidents captured by police officers in the unmarked cabs have been released by National Highways ahead of a week of action along the M1.
Officers from eight different police forces including Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Northamptonshire as well as the Leicestershire Road Safety Partnership will be patrolling the motorway from Monday 6 to Sunday 12 March.
They will be looking out for incidents of illegal driving - such as this driver in the picture below who was spotted at the wheel of a horsebox texting on his mobile phone and without his seatbelt on.
From the elevated position in the HGV cab, officers can spot unsafe driving behaviour – whatever vehicle the motorist may be in.
More than 33,254 offences have been recorded since the ‘Operation Tramline’ unmarked HGV cabs safety initiative was launched by National Highways in 2015 - And some 30,380 vehicles have been stopped by police.
The most common offences are not wearing a seatbelt (9,962) and using a mobile phone (8,368) followed by 2,257 who were not in proper control of their vehicle.
Consequences for drivers range from warnings to fixed penalty notices, court summons or arrest.
The aim of the week of action on the M1 – labelled Operation Freeway - is to reduce the number of incidents on the motorway.
In 2022, there were 73,593 incidents on the M1 – that is more than 200 incidents every single day. There were 4,087 traffic collisions on the motorway last year.
Jeremy Phillips, National Highways Head of Road Safety, said: “We are committed to reducing the number of people killed or seriously injured while travelling on our roads by 50% by 2025 and we have a long-term ambition for zero harm.
"To achieve that we need to tackle the unsafe driving behaviour that we sadly still encounter.
“Hundreds of thousands of drivers use our roads every day and the vast majority are sensible behind the wheel but some are putting themselves and others at risk.
"Through this week of action, we want to encourage motorists to think about their driving and to adopt safer behaviours.
“But those who continue to pose a risk should be aware that we are working with our police partners to make sure they are spotted and prevented from causing serious harm to themselves or others.”
Partners and National Highways traffic officers will also be present at motorway services offering advice to drivers and carrying out vehicle checks.
Commander Kyle Gordon, National Police Chiefs’ council lead for Roads Policing Operations, said: "We are pleased to be working with our key partner National Highways once again as we work to reduce the danger caused on one of our busiest roads, and beyond, by drivers who allow themselves to be distracted while driving.
"Too many people are killed or seriously injured on our roads every year.
"My officers have to visit the families of those killed on our roads, five times a day, every day of the week and every month of the year.
"I am very happy to support all initiatives that can help reduce these numbers."