Merseyside Police target HGV drivers in covert operation.

Merseyside Police issued 180 road traffic offence reports, 17-fixed penalty notices and seized four vehicles during operation ‘Truckcam’, a campaign targeting unsafe commercial vehicle drivers.

Specially trained officers used an unmarked bus and truck-cab for two weeks in February in the city and surrounding motorways.  The police used a handheld camera to catch the suspected offenders on film.

Chief Inspector John Hogan, Matrix Serious Organised Crime Roads Policing Unit said: "Through their sheer weight and size, heavy goods vehicles can pose a huge risk road users if they are being driven carelessly. This latest fortnight of action has resulted in well over 200 offences being detected, ranging from drivers not wearing seatbelts or having defective tyres through to people still using mobile phones whilst they're behind the wheel.”

Traffic Commissioner for the North West of England and Senior Traffic Commissioner for Great Britain, Beverley Bell, supported the initiative.

"Some of the behaviour that has been captured by this excellent initiative is simply unacceptable. Drivers reported for these offences are warned they will be referred to the traffic commissioners, as we are responsible for their professional driving licences. We have the power to take action and driver can lose their licenses for two weeks in cases of mobile phone abuse. Overall, the commercial vehicle industry has a good record when it comes to abiding by the rules, so it is vital that the relevant enforcement agencies continue to target those who are needlessly putting other road users and themselves, at risk. By doing so they also damage the industry’s image.”