Shocking moment lorry driver is caught using just his elbow to steer 44-tonne car transporter along M40
- Footage shows a careless trucker driving along the M40 using just his elbow
- Police caught him putting other motorists at risk as he drove unmarked HGV cab
- Read: Watch as out-of-control truck takes out a city bus stop after driver faints
This is the shocking moment a lorry driver was caught using just his elbow to steer a 44-tonne car transporter along the M40.
Footage shows the trucker driving along the motorway near Gaydon in Warwickshire without using his hands.
Police caught the driver putting other motorists at risk as they patrolled the roads in an unmarked HGV cab.
In the video the trucker can be seen resting his head in one hand as he leans on the wheel with his elbow while the other hand is folded across his body.
When he notices he is being watched, the driver quickly grabs the wheel with both hands – but police had already alerted colleagues and asked for him to be pulled over.
Shocking footage shows a casual trucker perilously driving along the M40 near Gayden, in Warwickshire, completely handsfree and using just his elbow
The footage was released by National Highways as a result of a week of action to tackle unsafe driving on motorways.
During the national HGV road safety project ‘Operation Tramline’, police have recorded over 33,000 offences.
Eight police forces have been patrolling the length of motorways in unmarked National Highway cabs between London and Leeds.
National Highway’s head of road safety, Jeremy Phillips, said: ‘We are committed to reducing the number of people killed or seriously injured while travelling on our roads by 50 per cent by 2025 and we have a long term ambition for zero harm.
‘To achieve that we need to tackle the unsafe driving behaviour that we sadly still encounter.
‘Hundreds of thousands of drivers use our roads every day and the vast majority are sensible behind the wheel but some are putting themselves and others at risk.
Police caught the driver putting other motorists at risk as he patrolled the roads in an unmarked HGV cab
‘Through this week of action we want to encourage motorists to think about their driving and to adopt safer behaviours.’
He added: ‘But those who continue to pose a risk should be aware that we are working with our police partners to make sure they are spotted and prevented from causing serious harm to themselves or others.’
National Police Chiefs’ Council Lead for Roads Policing Operations, Commander Kyle Gordon, said: ‘We are pleased to be working with our key partner National Highways once again as we work to reduce the danger caused on one of our busiest roads, and beyond, by drivers who allow themselves to be distracted while driving.
‘Too many people are killed or seriously injured on our roads every year.
‘My officers have to visit the families of those killed on our roads, 5 times a day, every day of the week and every month of the year.
‘I am very happy to support all initiatives that can help reduce these numbers.’
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