MORE than 180 offences were recorded during a week-long crackdown on lorry drivers who break the law and put other road users at risk.

The operation ran from September 10-14 with Suffolk police roads policing unit patrolling the A11, A14 and A12 dual carriageways in Norfolk and Suffolk using an unmarked lorry.

The aim was to detect and record traffic offences, particularly those that can distract drivers, including using a mobile phone, watching a TV, DVD or laptop, eating, drinking, steering with knees and reading a book or newspaper while driving.

Sergeant Paul Ward, of the casualty reduction team, said: “This was a very successful operation with a number of drivers dealt with for a range of offences.

“However, the figures do reflect the fact that a disappointing amount of people have the wrong attitudes when they are behind the wheel of a heavy goods vehicle.”

Once the officer in the unmarked lorry witnessed an offence, video evidence was recorded before the offending vehicle was pulled over by a unit in a pursuing team of two police cars and two police motorbikes.

A total of 185 offences were recorded, including 25 in Norfolk, with 116 drivers not wearing seatbelts, 33 using a mobile phone while driving, nine for not being in proper control of their vehicle and one for not having insurance.

Around �11,000 in fines were handed out and two arrests were made with prosecutions pending for disqualified driving and fraud.

Sgt Ward added: “We will continue to work in Suffolk and Norfolk to educate lorry drivers about the dangers of driving whilst using a mobile, not wearing a seatbelt and other poor driving habits, to keep out roads safe for all users.”