Drivers across the southwest have been warned they risk a £5,000 fine and six months' imprisonment for breaking major traffic rules in place.

It comes after Gloucestershire Constabulary launched a crackdown on driving offences along the M5, with several motorists caught breaking the rules.

In one case, Operation Tramline caught an HGV driver rolling a cigarette with no hands on the wheel, which resulted in a hefty fine.

The operation, which took place last month, saw police use an unmarked HGV lorry which was driven along junctions 8 and 14 of the motorway and resulted in 58 drivers being stopped.

Police have been using HGV cabs for over 10 years to spot rulebreakers on UK roadsNATIONAL HIGHWAYS

While in the unmarked HGV, police were able to capture driving offences, which included not wearing a seat belt, using a mobile phone behind the wheel, as well as other vehicle defects, such as having no brakes and insecure loads.

Elsewhere, a tow truck was pulled over with officers finding several defects, which included no brakes, cuts in tyres, bald tyres, cracked suspension springs and an insecure load.

Officers also pulled over two motorists who were towing vehicles while in the third lane of the motorway, which breaches Rule 265 of the Highway Code.

The offences were dealt with through Traffic Offence Reports and summonses, with the drivers receiving fines of £100 for failing to wear a seat belt.

Department for Transport Road casualty statistics revealed that, based on data for 2018 to 2022, 24 per cent of car occupant fatalities were not wearing a seatbelt.

Not wearing a seatbelt also breached Rule 99 of the Highway Code, which states: "You MUST wear a seat belt in cars, vans and other goods vehicles if one is fitted. Adults and children aged 14 years and over MUST use a seat belt or child restraint, where fitted, when seated in minibuses, buses and coaches."

For the driver caught using a mobile phone, they risk a £200 penalty and six penalty points, with motorists also four times more likely to be in a crash if using a device while driving.

Meanwhile, a £300 fine was handed to the motorist travelling with a driving ban, with police explaining that the penalties for driving while disqualified can lead to a fine of up to £5,000 and up to six months’ imprisonment.

Drivers were fined for being on their phones while operating an HGV

Sergeant Matt Firth from the Roads Policing Unit said that reducing the number of people killed or seriously injured on roads is a key priority for Gloucestershire Constabulary.

He said: "We will continue to run these operations to detect and deter those who choose to drive in this manner, remembering that any of us or our loved ones could be impacted by such behaviours whilst using the county's roads."

National Highways Engineering Team Manager for Road Safety, Jack Mason, added: "Figures show that you’re twice as likely to die in a crash if you don't wear a seat belt and four times more likely to be in a crash if using a phone at the wheel.

"So, it is always disappointing when we see people who are prepared to put themselves and others at risk in this way."

The tow truck was pulled over, with officers finding several defects

He explained that this year marks the 10th anniversary of Operation Tramline, with its goal to remind motorists to "think carefully about their driving behaviours and to make our roads safer".

"These results show just how valuable our HGV cabs continue to be in helping to spot unsafe driving behaviours, and we will continue working with our police partners to make our roads as safe as we can," he shared.

In April, Chief Constable Jo Shiner, the National Police Chiefs' Council lead for roads policing, warned that driving while distracted is, "incredibly dangerous and selfish, putting many lives at risk and, as the statistics show, it can all too often end in tragedy".

She stated that operations such as the one along the M5 "speak for themselves in showing just how valuable it is and how the perspective from the truck cab enhances officers' view of the road."