Van seen poking from back of moving lorry

Roads policing officers were confronted with an unusual motorway sight – a large van poking out from the back of a lorry.

The irregular cargo was spotted on the M1 on the morning of April 2 during a pre-planned operation involving an HGV cab.

The lorry was later stopped on the A42 where the driver was issued with a Traffic Offence Report for driving an overweight vehicle and for a Tachograph offence.

The lorry was prohibited from leaving the scene until the van was removed from the back and legally removed from the roadside.

PC Mike Grant, of Nottinghamshire Police’s roads policing unit, said:

“I’ve seen a lot of things on the motorway before, but this was definitely a first.

“For good reason there are clear rules in place about the safe transportation of vehicles and other heavy and oversized loads.

“People who breach those rules are putting themselves and other road users in danger and will always be met with a firm policing response.”

The vehicles were seized during Operation Tramline – a nationwide, week-long police operation conducted from cab of an HGV between Monday 31 March and Friday 4 April.

Operating with partners from the Highways Agency, roads policing officers used the lorry’s elevated position to keep an eye on the traffic below.

In total they pulled over 78 vehicles for offences including speeding, mobile phone use, seatbelt violations, driving without insurance and driving without due care and attention.