Shocking moment police catch lorry driver using two phones on M1 near Sheffield

Shocking video footage has been released by South Yorkshire Police showing the moment a lorry driver was caught using two mobile phones while behind the wheel on the M1.
By Claire Lewis
Published 1st Mar 2021, 08:51 GMT
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Officers from the force’s roads policing team have gone undercover to find motorists flouting the law as part as a national crackdown on the issue.

Highways England provided South Yorkshire Police with an unmarked HGV tractor unit, which allowed officers to see inside vehicles from a greater height.

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Officers filmed drivers to capture them in the act, with one found with a mobile phone in one hand and another in the other while resting it on the steering wheel.

A lorry driver was caught using two mobile phones while behind the wheel of a HGV on the M1 in South YorkshireA lorry driver was caught using two mobile phones while behind the wheel of a HGV on the M1 in South Yorkshire
A lorry driver was caught using two mobile phones while behind the wheel of a HGV on the M1 in South Yorkshire

He was also found to be not wearing his seatbelt.

Roads Policing Sergeant, Bruce Yacomeni, said: “I am extremely pleased that South Yorkshire Police are the first force in the country to make use of this unmarked HGV, provided fully funded through partnership working with Highways England.

“We have an extensive motorway network running through South Yorkshire and work hard to ensure the safety of all users.

“This initiative has allowed us to enhance and increase our detection rates of those drivers using their mobile phone behind the wheel, or committing other Fatal Four offences - drink and drug driving, speeding and not wearing a seat belt.”

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In one week, 41 drivers were found to be driving without wearing a seat belt, 19 drivers were found using their mobile phones, six were speeding and 10 were found to not be in proper control of their vehicle.

Another 22 were dealt with for licencing and document offences, including having no insurance or an MOT.

Highways England’s Regional Road Safety Co-ordinator for Yorkshire and North East, Sarah Watson-Quirk, added: “The vast majority of people drive responsibly and we hope this operation will encourage all road users to drive safely.

“We have several lorry cabs at Highways England that provide the police will a valuable tool to carry out their job enforcing the law. Unfortunately around 450 people are killed or seriously injured every year on England’s motorways and major A roads as a result of a driver being impaired or distracted.

“Those who break the law by using mobile phones or distracted in other ways are putting lives at risk.”