MORE than 140 drivers were pulled over on the M1 near Rugby during a five-day police operation.
Officers from Northamptonshire Police patrolled between junctions 15 and 18 of the motorway, using an unmarked HGV to pull alongside vehicles and film evidence of illegal and irresponsible driving.
Drivers seen committing an offence were then pulled over by a following police car.
In total, 147 traffic offences were detected, with more than half involving the ‘fatal five’ driving offences – careless driving, drink and drug driving, not wearing a seatbelt, using a mobile phone, and speeding.
They included three drivers who were arrested on suspicion of driving while unfit through drugs, who were all released under investigation pending blood test results.
Other offences included driving without insurance, driving with insecure dangerous loads, tyre defects and overweight vehicles.
Sgt Adam Jeskins of the Northamptonshire Police Safer Roads Team said: “It was very disappointing to find so many drivers prepared to put not only their lives but also their livelihoods at risk for the sake of not wearing a seat belt or checking their mobile phones.
“Driving any vehicle needs your full attention but even more so when you’re behind the wheel of a commercial van or lorry and there’s absolutely nothing so important that can’t wait or is worth risking not getting home safely for.”
