Officers using a borrowed HGV cab patrolled the M20, M2, M26, M25, A2 and other key Kent roads, finding 23 drivers on their phones and issuing dozens of fixed penalties.
Kent Police’s Road Safety Unit pulled over 59 motorists during a five-day operation in early July, targeting dangerous driving on the county’s busiest roads — the M20, M2, M26, M25 and the A20 approach to Dover. The joint operation with National Highways resulted in 23 graduated fixed penalty notices, 23 traffic offence reports and the seizure of two vehicles.
A specialist HGV cab, loaned to the force, proved central to the operation. Sitting higher than a standard patrol car, it gave officers a clear view of cabs and cockpits that would otherwise be hidden from the road. Of the 59 stopped, 31 were HGV drivers, 16 were public service vehicle drivers, 10 drove light goods vehicles and two were other drivers.
Twenty-three were caught using their mobile phone at the wheel. Eight were driving without due care, seven weren’t wearing a seatbelt, six weren’t in proper control of their vehicle, five were speeding and four had no insurance. Officers also provided words of advice to other motorists.
Chief Inspector Craig West, Head of Roads Policing, said: “This is a joint operation which we have regularly taken part in and once again officers have identified a number of motorists who were knowingly putting others at risk. The rules are there to abide by and we will continue to seek to find and deal with those drivers who do not follow the rules. Our main priority is to keep the people of Kent safe, and we will continue to take part in operations like these to ensure those motorists who break the law and put others’ lives in danger face the consequences of their actions.”
Kent Police said the operation is one it runs regularly alongside National Highways, targeting motorists seen driving dangerously or in an unsafe manner across Kent’s major routes.