Operation Tramline – tackling dangerous driving behaviours

26 May 2025

Ten years ago, National Highways’ first unmarked HGV cab went out on patrol with the police, in an innovative trial to find new ways to deter unsafe driving – and  Operation Tramline  was born. Over that time:

• 51,500 offences have been spotted by police officers in National Highways’ unmarked HGV cabs
• Shocking unsafe driving incidents include playing with a Rubik’s Cube at the wheel, eating meals and applying make-up
• People not wearing seatbelts or using a mobile phone top the list of offences recorded 

Since that first patrol, more than 51,500 offences have been recorded, by officers from 35 different police forces, patrolling across the country in an Operation Tramline cab.

There are now three unmarked HGVs available to police partners, tackling dangerous driving behaviours. The most common offences recorded over the last decade are not wearing a seatbelt (14,861) and using a mobile phone (13,553). Together these offences make up over half (54%) of the total number of offences recorded by police between 2015 and 2024.