Most of us drive around and use the sight of a police vehicle as a sign that we are being monitored. However, police in some parts of the UK are using unmarked HGVs to spy on drivers and to then send out fines for a whole range of minor traffic offences.
Caught out at the wheel
Highways England revealed that last year there were over 4,000 drivers who were caught out by just three unmarked HGVs that they operated while hundreds of unmarked police trucks have caught more. Police are filming and fining people not wearing their seatbelt, eating at the wheel or using their mobile phone.
The lorries don’t tow trailers and, the officers sit in the cab, one driving and the other with a video camera to record offences. Northamptonshire police are the latest to admit to using this tactic and caught 43 drivers committing over 50 offences in a recent session. The higher viewpoint means that officers can look into cars and see what drivers are doing, said PC David Lee of the force.
Nothing new
It turns out this isn’t a new practice – police have been using the tactic for three years. Last year there were 213 people stopped for a variety of offences including 12 who were found to be reading books or eating while driving. Highways England also use the tactic and caught one lorry driver with his foot on the dashboard while talking on his mobile phone while driving, a ridiculous and highly dangerous idea.
A total of 28 forces have used the HGV cab safety initiative since it was started in April 2015. Over 4,100 drivers have been pulled over in relation to over 5,000 offences during the first two years – almost two-thirds were driving and using a mobile phone at the same time. Other offences included drivers steering with their knees and even brushing their teeth while behind the wheel.
The Road Police Unit from Surrey Police enjoys showing some of the ridiculous – and dangerous – things they have spotted since using an HGV. Have a look here: https://twitter.com/i/moments/894570962364100608
Strange driving practices
The unmarked vehicles have caught people doing a range of strange things while driving. One woman with a young child in the rear seat was found applying lipstick and mascara while travelling at 40mph along a dual carriageway. She was using her rearview mirror to ensure her makeup was perfect, although her driving can’t have been!
Two delivery drivers were caught inhaling nitrous oxide, a substance that is illegal for human consumption, in their parked van in Birmingham. Another driver was seen driving along a London road eating cereal with a spoon and bowl, that car must’ve been quite messy! Other more common offences including not wearing seatbelts and not being in proper control of the vehicle.
Using a mobile phone while driving remains the top reason that the unmarked HGVs have stopped drivers. One sting in Kent in March operated for three days and stopped 44 drivers, 31 of which were using their mobile phones behind the wheel. This now carries six penalty points and a £200 fine if you are caught using a hand-held phone. Bluetooth headsets, voice command or dashboard holders are all acceptable alternatives.
Unmarked car rights
Some drivers are a little nervous about the concept of unmarked police cars, even if they are doing nothing wrong. Following stories of people being followed by fake unmarked police cars, some drivers are worried about stopping for a vehicle that doesn’t look like a police car. One driver was signalled to stop by an unmarked vehicle, but when the man in the car didn’t have a police uniform on, she drove away, and real police officers said she did the right thing.
Unmarked cars and vehicles do have the right to stop drivers but the officers driving the vehicles must have a police uniform on when they get out. They don’t have to have a reason to stop someone and can ask for your name, date of birth and to see documents such as driving license, insurance and MOT certificate. These can be delivered later to a police station if you don’t have them on you within seven days.
If you are unsure that the vehicle is a genuine unmarked police car, the official police advice is to drive to the nearest police station or a public place such as a petrol station. Even an occupied house could do in remote areas but don’t stop somewhere where no-one is around.
Signal to the car to show you have acknowledged them, and a real police vehicle will happily follow you. You can also use hands-free devices to call 999 if you are worried and they can check the details of the vehicle. Don’t drive off at high speed, however, or real police will think you are trying to get away!
Extra caution needed
The new tactic by police shows that just because you can’t see a police vehicle, doesn’t mean you can get away with dangerous driving behaviour. As more forces around the country start to use this approach, people will have to be even more cautious while driving.
Have you ever been stopped by an unmarked police vehicle? Or have you seen the unmarked HGV? Do you think that this is acceptable for the police to do? We’d love to hear about your experiences!
Anyone who is stupid enough to commit any of the offences you describe deserves all they get and if the police catch more of these irresponsible morons by using unmarked HGVs (or any other methods) then so much the better. It gets my vote!
It’s very apparent that some people are always going to use their phones whilst driving in the belief that the law doesn’t really apply to them. A mandatory minimum three months disqualification for a first offence and increasing penalties thereafter and they will soon see the error of their ways.
Using a mobile when driving is as dangerous as driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and should therefore carry the same penalty.
Insurance costs will also hit such offenders hard. This is often ignored as people normally just focus initially on the sanctions meted out to them
A simpler way Take the phone and vehicle from then there and then no excuse allowed
I agree with that.
Unless they can afford handsfree and then they have impunity. Except they don’t. Being distracted by a mobile phone however it is used is a crime punishable by a sentence in HM prisons. So why notplace limiters in all cars that scramble a phone signal. After all some just can’t resist the temptation. I have handsfree but I would welcome some peace. I turn my mobile off if driving.
Don’t agree. If you need it in an emergency it’s there.
3 month months ban are you for real? You clearly don’t work or live in the real world pal. Try doing my job being on the road from 3am up and down the country without using a phone. Driving skill and lack of intelligence are the real driving problems and there are no restrictions on stupidity. As evidenced by your comment. Go back to waxing your Volvo outside your semi Geoff.
So you condone using a mobile phone while driving, yes or no , if you do and you killed someone whilst using your mobile phone how would you feel,
It’s unlawful to use a mobile phone while driving and people who do get caught should not only be fined heavy they should have there licences revoked
It’s not unlawful to use a mobile phone. Hands free is legal!
hear hear
Even if eating a chocolate bar? There are some people who must maintain sugar levels to be safe. QI don’t think Quite frankly I doubt if sensibly having a bite to eat renders the driver to be not driving safely.
I’d hazard a guess they are talking about fish and chips or a burger, a kebab perhaps or a pizza wouldn’t go amiss
Agreed that they should be caught and fined, but there are a hell of a lot more idiots on the roads today that deserve to be pulled. Where are the police when idiots are tearing round estates and near schools, likewise the young kids in souped up cars that they obviously have no idea how to handle. They just keep getting away with it so consider it appropriate to carry on. Can we have something done about this please???
To author
I strongly disagree that driving using the mobile phone is a minor driving offence. An insensitive article.
Police unmarked vehicles will not bother anyone keeping within the law, however they will possibly catch some people who are putting others at risk by texting/phoning or speeding and who are breaking the law.
I’ve been driving since 1970 and have had a PSV, HGV and an Advanced Driving Licences. I do agree that some car drivers are irresponsible and think the car they are in is a form of armour that allows them to do some dangerous types of driving. So I’m all for more clamp down on the situation
that’s a long time to be driving, you should stop for a rest
Its not just “car” drivers, they also catch quite a lot of irresponsible lorry and van drivers as well.
Hardly unmarked with NPCC and yellow and blue squares on the cab
The Blue and Yellow squares have been “photoshopped” onto the photo and are not on the actual Truck.
Good luck with asking for my MOT certificate.
Silly, meaningless comment. If your vehicle is less than 3 years old (or exempt) it will have a MoT record that the police can check online.
Tax is of course also now on a database, as are all driving licenses, and all insurers also now log policies to a central database that can be checked. They can ask for any and all of these documents including your driving license but there is no law in the UK, thank goodness, that states that you have to have any of them with you and in fact I read somewhere that legal advice is to say you haven’t got them with you even if you have. All they can do is give you a notice to show up within 5 days to show them at a police station of your choice. I don’t keep my insurance certificate, registration doc, MOT certificate etc in my car and quite often if I’m just nipping out say to pick up one of my kids from somewhere I won’t have any form of identification on me at all let alone my driving license.
Whilst no excusing any of these offences I have always found it strange that to film “criminal activity” a RIPA is required ( Regualatory Investigatory Powers Act) Thishas got to be focussed on the known criminal and not impact on anyone else and requires police superintendents signiture. Strangely no such thing is reqitred for motorists. Strange that isn’t it. I really can’t think why it is. Maybe someone can think of a reason
Pete, interesting comment but how do you feel about all the CCTV cameras there are watching your every move. The UK has to greatest number of surveillance cameras that anywhere else.
Why does your headline say “Spy” ? they’re not spying, they’re catching drivers who break the law. Bloody good job too. Too many innocent people are being injured or killed by those who are inconsiderate and have no regard for others. The punishment is also far too lenient. It should be a full 12 month ban and at least a £1000 fine. There’s no excuse for this behaviour.
I agree Rob. ‘Spy’ is not the right term. I’ve had arguments before with Change Luton over their use of inappropriate terminology.
While this is a good idea to catch those breaking the law, it probably won’t stop them. Watching the ‘fly-on-the-wall’ police programmes, most of the offenders are banned, with no MOT and no insurance anyway.
Pleased I read the article as I did not know about eating.Quite agree with police trying to catch all those who put my life and others at risk.
Is eating anything whilst driving a dangerous act in your opinion?
Not eating per se, just using your hands or spilling something hot in your lap.
I know someone who was fined for eating a kit cat whilst driving, I can’t comment on write or wrong but it’s must be against the law as he was fined I think it was driving without due care and attention
If you obey the law you have nothing to fear A simple fact Let the police catch the lawbreakers any way they can
I fully support the Police using unmarked HGV,s and unmarked cars. Many drivers are a danger to themselves and more so to other people. They should be punished heavily.
The police are protecting us. More use should be made of this.
Whilst I agree that a lot of these offences ARE dangerous I struggle to understand why I was taught to be able to control my car with just one hand on the steering wheel and I STILL see police officers using THEIR phones whilst driving!’
A driving instructor should never teach anyone to steer with one hand! Get a refund!!
I was taught in the late 50s and we had to give hand signals. No problem
Hard to change gear on a manual shift with both hands on the steering wheel …..
They are an emergency service. You aren’t.
So? dangerous driving is dangerous driving.
If you are behaving dangerously, stupidly or illegally, then you deserve to be apprehended.
But for everyone of these incidents, very many more entirely innocent citizens will be covertly observed and possibly filmed by officials of the state when they have done nothing wrong.
I’m no campaigning libertarian but I’m uncomfortable about it. It’s not decent behaviour in a supposedly benign democracy. We should be concerned.
Mike, you are most likely to be seen on cameras every day, fact of lfe nowadays
I was recently driving at 70 mph in lane one towards London on the M3 and although traffic was light, I was disconcerted to see a Jaguar XE ahead cruising at 60-65 mph in lane two. As I passed the vehicle (staying in my lane), I gave the driver a friendly van-driver’s toot and wave. At this point he reached across the empty passenger seat and waved a police badge at me. Taking this to mean that he was hard of understanding I repeated my “wave” and continued on my way.
So you used your horn unnecessarily? You should have been fined.
Police are above the law! Victimless crimes are an easy target.
The police are fully entitled to use unmarked vehicles. My only hope is that they catch more drivers committing offences, especially using mobile phones.
I hope they catch more mobile phone abusers.
Yeah, people who abuse mobile phones make me sick
I think it is important to strictly adhere to 30 and 40 limits but more lenience shown for higher speeding limits ( depending on driving conditions i.e. traffic levels, weather conditions etc. I do find it very annoying that traffic is being held up by drivers using mobile phones when the lights have turned green for example.
So driving faster is safer! That makes perfect sense
I agree with Malcolm, 30 and 40 zone are that because of dangers. But motorways, the 70 limit was put in place when car brakes were so bad that it would take time and distance for them to stop. Now cars are so much safer and need much less to stop or just stop selling high power cars. Look at Germany, much high speeds and lower accident rates.
Shaf, you can have the safest car on the road, but the person who is driving it is the weakest link. At higher speeds one distraction or lack of attention can lead to an accident.
In Germany there are far more Police patrols on the roads so they have to drive with a sensible attitude. Are you aware that on their No Limit AutoBarns you are not insured if you have an accident.
Zoggie. It’s autobahn and you are insured. European law means your insurance has to cover you on public roads in all countries. Your not insured on the nurbrugring as it’s a toll race track. Your right though, much better driving standard and more police.
It’s all good and a great way to catch the guilty, I do wonder though why simple eating at the wheel (and I do mean simple eating) is illegal but smoking isn’t! Smoking is much more dangerous imo. How many drivers have had the red hot lighted end of their fag drop off into their lap while driving, probably all of them at some point!
spot on mate
Smoking comes under the same law as eating – driving without due care and attention – that law basically covers everything!
I do understand Smoking is banned for people driving work vans and for people smoking in private cars with children under 16 years old there should be a full ban on all smoking in cars
They should also be fined for throwing their cigarette butt (still lit) out of the window. More and more drivers seem to think this is OK, and it’s not…not if you’re driving behind them with your window open!
I agree ref mobile phones but afraid that having driven now for over 30 years the tactics to catch drivers out for minor offences are all about revenue – funny how they can afford the resources for these excercises but can’t get bobbies out of their cars and on the beat – incidentally the police targeted cyclists in Portsmouth last year for lack of lights – in the inevitable traffic jams you have in Portsmouth I was overtaken by 2 police cyclists riding abreast with no lights – you couldn’t make it up!
Police dont decide budget – they have to deal with what they get given
John, maybe the 2 police cyclists were covertly following a suspect :))
Abide by the laws no problem
Abide by the laws no problems
Maybe they could supplement their movements by attaching a trailer and delivering items instead of just cruising around. Hope it has Adblu as it is possibly diesel engined.
More power to their elbow, I have seen some horrific accidents caused by inattention using a mobile. They need to video and then charge all the middle and out side lane hoggers too, though.
Totally agree, so many people just sit in the outside lane or second to outside lane, regardless of it being a 3 or 4 lane motorway and no cars in the inner left lanes.
Have seen people getting frustrated and have to undertake them and despite that, they still just sleep in the out lanes.
Oh and the idiots that don’t use there indicators, they should be fined loads, as how so other road user know what they are about to do. Rant over:)
Shaf, I must ask what speed are these lane hoggers doing? If it is 70mph why is there a need to change lanes as they are at the maximum speed limit.
I drive on the M2 and M20 and due to the vast amount of 40t lorries on these roads 7 days a week the inside lanes are full of Potholes on the 1st and 2nd lanes so many drivers stick to the outer lanes to avoid them, so you have a choice of run over them and chance damaging you suspension or tyres or stay in the lanes that are good
I totally agree with covert methods of catching dangerous activities that our voices at risk. The penalties for using a mobile phone are still not strong enough. I do also believe the police and other emergency services should be held to account to the same laws. I see far too many emergency drivers handling phones or radios or computer screens while driving. You only have to watch some of the documentaries, fly on the wall series in tv for examples. I don’t care what training they have, the same rules apply and they should all be using hands free or voice activated systems.
And if anything goes wrong then they still have to deal with the consequences like the rest of us
Well, I am not surprised. It had to happen Whilst I am grateful that we have Traffic Police to help us times of need, one cannot help but think that catching drivers and fining them is an easier option than catching real criminals about real crimes. I do hope that this perception is wrong, but it does seem to me that with the shocking rise in the crime statistics, that Police resources would be far better spent in those crime areas first and then come to the more innocuous things such as motoring etc., later. I am obviously aware of some of the terrible things that go on with hit and runs, drunk driving and the like, but that is ‘Criminal Activity’ and needs to be covered by that. More minor road offences really should take a back seat at the present time. (No pun intended)
In today’s world of unrulieness I think that the Police need anyour type of vehicle. Especially with all the trouble and the cutbacks by Government.
I was stopped by the police today while driving in Phuket, Thailand.
I was surprised as I was only doing 40KM/h in a 50 speed limit.
I was told I will be fined a total of 5000 baht (approx £120) for:
1) Not using my phone while driving
2) Driving down the road in the correct direction
3) Not eating whilst driving
4) Having my lights on at night.
It is a joke of course but the laws here are never adhered to, I saw a motorbike coming the wrong way down a road last week coming towards me, I though my god, it turned out to be a policeman on a police motorbike. No lie.
You all probably think I am joking about the one way street but I am not, people even drive down the wrong side of certain motorways, I have seen it dozens of times myself while driving here in the South of Thailand.
Still it is good fun, a bit like dogem cars but for real.
You will feel like the British drive like angels if you travel to Asia.
Another way to fleece the drivers of money. Easy money for the police. Shame they can’t put a few more police on the streets in built up areas to stop people breaking into houses and knife crime.
Peter, if drivers today abided by the laws and rules of the road then the Police would not need to use such tactics which in turn would release more officers to to combat those crimes you mention
Ury ury you have my vote what I have seen on the roads to day the morons deserve to be fined and punished
The more the merry.. If you do not break the law you have nothing to worry about.. SIMPLE. Catch as many as you can. you have all been warned for years. Mobile phone use has not really diminished that is why the penalties have gone up. If I had my way 13 month ban, forced to take your test again.
I have been driving since 1972 driving cars and lorries, yes i do eat and drink pop while driving, but NEVER caused an accident, i have NEVER held a mobile while driving but have used hands free. to me there is a different between those that have pass there test and driving a long time who knows what they doing, rather than some of the idiots on road nowadays, i suppose someone gonna call me one
Now there is the problem – people do these things because nothing has ever happened – but things do happen – people (like yourself) are taking more risk than others – we cant eliminate the risk whilst driving but the driver can reduce the risk by choosing what to do/not to do
John, No disrespect but never think that because you have been driving a long time, you quote “you know what you are doing”. I too drove HGV’S since 1966 up to retiring in 2010. Up to 2008 I was proud that I had never had a blameworthy collision. One day In 2008 I stupidly left my mobile phone switched on and answered a call. (It was a wrong number) and in doing so ran into a car which had stopped quickly in front of me. Not a great deal of damage done but I dread to think that if I had been going at full speed what carnage I could have caused. Big lesson learned and I applaud any ways and means that the police put in force to catch people who flout the law.
Sorry, just have to add, 1966 mobile phones were not very mobile, only really started to take off after 2000+. Using a mobile in a moving vehicle without hands-free should have strict fines.
Regarding have a sip of a drink or a chocolate bar to keep sugar levels up that would be so much safer then the alternative of someone’s sugar levels dropping or dehydrating and falling asleep at the wheel.
Shaf, this is not about mobile phones, its about driving outside the law. I passed my first driving test in 1968, and have had no endorsements on my licence (points) since 1973. The law says that drivers are responsible for their actions, and if you feel it necessary to have a drink or a bite to eat you should pull off the road to do so. I find it much better to stop, get out of the vehicle and have a walk round, a stretch and a drink / bite to eat and then start again. You would too, rather than hitting someone else because you can’t react in time to a developing situation on the road ahead because your attention is on whatever you have in your hands (assuming its not the steering wheel or the gear lever!)
Same goes for smoking. Should be allowed.. You want a lot of bad tempered, irritable drivers on the the roads?
Respect for admitting your mistake.
About time! If you are driving within the law you have nothing to worry about at any time. Regarding the use of mobile phones whilst driving, the warnings and pathetic fines have gone on long enough. Their driving licence should simply be automatically removed – for life.
I am so glad I’m emigrating. This country has become a hellhole to live in. what with the new laws coming at you every other week ,it seems, desiugned to part you form whatever little money you have left and taxes and the stupidly high cost of living .My house in Thailand costs me £80.00 a month to rent. My petrol is ,on average60P a, jsut under £3.00 a gallon.I can go out for a meal at a restaurant form under £1.00.The beer is far superior to the chemical brew they sell you here ( Try Leo or Chang ) and a case works out at under £1.00 a bottle
This was on one of the police programmes on TV several yeas ago and used to catch HGV drivers initially in the midlands. You don’t see many HGV units without trailers these days and the blue and yellow on the side is a hint. Can’t see why people would complain.
However, need to stop lorries tailgating each other as well. Two accidents in one day on M25 North East Section involving lorries. The same day I saw an artic driving less than 13 feet (4 metres) behind a tanker doing at least 50 mph. The gap was smaller than the length of my small car. If the tanker had braked there was no way for the artic to avoid a collision.
Don’t have a problem with police using unmarked vehicles whatever they are car/van/HGV. The more people they catch committing motoring offences the better!
Good on the police, I wish they did it in Newcastle Upon Tyne and the North East, I drive with only one hand, left hand and I do not wear a seatbelt.
Last time the police seen me not wearing the seatbelt was about 13 years ago when I got pulled over.
I am excempt from wearing the seatbelt due to my disability.
not in the hours of darkness
I’m totally in favour of any tactic that discourages the very dangerous practice of using a mobile whilst driving this is NOT a minor traffic offence. Many have been killed as a result.
I think if I government were serious about not allowing people to use mobile phones in cars they would put blocks in cars so that nobody could use a mobile phone. Let’s face it talking to someone that you cannot say and you cannot see the situation on the road in front of you it’s never safe. Regardless of whether you’re hands-free or otherwise. As for eating yes I’ve eaten an ice cream and if there was an emergency I would drop the ice cream on my lap if necessary and deal with the emergency I don’t see a problem with that. Of course I accept eating while driving is not as safe as eating while stationary. But the same could be said for smoking and I see no prosecutions yet for this disgusting habit.
How about passengers legally, sensibly using the mobile phone?
Many people object to this practice. I hope they still object when someone near to them is injured or killed by a rogue driver.
Nothing new in this the police have been using this for some time.
Having had Hampshire’s unmarked truck come round a motorway roundabout and onto the slip road at high speed recently I knew there was something ‘odd’ about the plain white tractor unit. The known unmarked Skoda tagging along confirmed it was something odd, along with the truck overtaking me at well over 70 mph to catch their next target. Over 15 miles it sat in lane 2 most of the time, even though lane 1 was empty a lot of the time, if drivers don’t pick up of the clues they really deserve to get caught out and dealt with!
Can they catch the tail gaters as well please
Why don’t you just pull over and let them overtake. Idiocy cuts both ways.
I am afraid I have long said that the way to deal with all the idiots on the road is for every driver to take an intelligence test. Failure would mean a ban for life – road congestion would be a thing of the past and driving would be so much more pleasant without all the idiots putting everyone else’s lives at risk.
Whilst I appreciate all the reasons the Police need to catch dangerous drivers, it is a pity that they do not expend the same amount of energy and resources to catch burglars, muggers and thieves.
Ah, but it’s easy revenue, like speed cams.
Hand held mobile phones. Bring in a law to confiscate the phone on the spot.Also 6 points and a 200 pounds fine.
CONFISCATE THE PHONE
Confiscate the mobile phone ++6 points ++ 200 pounds fine.
this is not news they have been using trucks for quite some time
Since doing my advanced driving course and realising how potentially lethal most drivers are, I am bound to agree with this. It is a miracle that there are not more fatalities. Test today!
I don’t really see the difference between Unmarked police vehicles and plain clothes officers,and if it makes the roads safer for me and my family I’am in Favour. Im sure there is a certain amount of common sense used,after all eating a sweet on a country road at 30 mph and eating chips while doing going 70mph on a busy motor way must have some relevance in the way the police action things