14 Drivers Caught on Mobile Phones During Devon & Cornwall Police HGV Operation

Fourteen drivers have been caught using their mobile phones at the wheel during a three-day police operation that used an unmarked HGV tractor unit to catch offenders from an elevated position on roads across Devon and Cornwall.

The operation, which took place on three days between the 31st of March and the 9th of April, was part of Operation Tramline, a National Highways road safety scheme that lends specialist unmarked heavy goods vehicles to police forces so officers can observe traffic from a cab height that would be difficult to replicate in a standard patrol car.

What Did Officers Find?

All 14 drivers caught on their phones have been reported for a traffic offence and face six penalty points on their licence and a £200 fine. On top of the mobile phone offences, officers recorded a further 21 violations, including not being in control of a vehicle, speeding, driving without due care, and having no insurance.

The HGV was not used for pursuit. Instead, officers onboard radioed their observations through to roads policing colleagues, who then intercepted the vehicles on the ground.

The deployment covered the M5 between Exeter and Junction 27, the A30 from Exeter to Hayle, and the A38 between Bodmin and Plymouth.

What Police Are Saying

Chief Inspector Si Jenkinson, Operational Lead for Roads Policing at Devon & Cornwall Police, said the elevated cab position allowed officers to detect offences that might otherwise have gone unnoticed.

“This was a short operation, but the number of dangerous offences that officers detected highlights the importance of this kind of proactive road safety work,” he said. “Op Tramline is just one of a number of enforcement tactics we use to make our roads safer all year round.”

The Wider Warning

Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez, who chairs the Vision Zero South West road safety partnership, warned that the consequences of being caught are significant, particularly for newer drivers.

“Using a mobile phone behind the wheel significantly increases your chances of being involved in a collision, with the distraction impairing both your judgment and reaction times,” she said.

“And even if you don’t cause a collision, being caught on your phone will result in a hefty fine and six penalty points, which is enough for a new driver’s licence to be revoked, meaning you will have to re-take your test. It’s just not worth it.”

Jack Mason, National Highways’ Road Safety Manager for the South West, acknowledged that most road users drive responsibly, but said action was still needed against those who do not.

“We all need to play our part in keeping our roads as safe as they can be,” he said.

Devon & Cornwall Police say the operation will continue throughout the year as part of a broader effort to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured on the region’s roads.