Gardai using unmarked HGV to catch drivers using their phones and not wearing their seatbelts

Roads Policing Inspector Peter Woods with the unmarked lorry
-Credit: (Image: Danny De Vaal)


Gardai have started using an unmarked HGV to catch drivers using their phones and not wearing seatbelts.

The Irish Mirror spent an hour with officers from the Roads Policing Unit this week as part of Operation IOMPAR which took place on the N7.

Officers said the operation which uses the unmarked HGV provides "for targeted enforcement on dual-carriageway and motorway network throughout the country".

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Gardai revealed they detected more than 15,000 people using their phones while driving so far this year - which is nearly 2,000 more than during the same period in 2023. Last month, 421 drivers received a fine and penalty points on their licence having been found using their phone behind the wheel.

Officers said Operation IOMPAR is already yielding positive results with more than 100 drivers detected during three periods of action using the HGV - the majority of which were found to be using their phones while driving.

Traffic officers explained the unmarked HGV gives them a better vantage point into vehicles as they drive while also allowing them to see into other lorries.

The unmarked garda truck, which is fitted with blue lights and sirens, has a driver and an observer who are on the lookout for road traffic violations. The truck is followed by a number of interceptor vehicles who then pull over the offending drivers.

When we went out, Roads Policing Inspector Peter Woods, who is based in Dublin Castle, was behind the wheel of the truck and Garda Des Griffin was his observer.

After just a couple of minutes, Gda Griffin noticed a driver using his mobile phone and radioed to Sgt Rob Griffin who was in an unmarked garda car behind. Sgt Griffin was given a description of the vehicle. He then turned on his blue lights before pulling it over. The driver was given a fixed charge notice and will receive three penalty points.

Insp Woods said cops in countries such as Belgium, France, and the UK also use trucks to make their roads safer.

He explained the new method is still part of a pilot programme but said they'd had great successes since launching on August 19 and expects unmarked trucks to be deployed nationally.

Insp Woods also told how during a previous outing up to 30 offences were detected in an eight-hour window using the unmarked HGV.

Speaking to the Irish Mirror, he explained: "We're coming near the end of a pilot project ... we've done three operations in the Dublin Metropolitan region, we have done a few in neighbouring divisions like Kildare, Cavan, and Monaghan.

"So based on the successes we've seen so far, it will be rolled out nationally, national deployment later this year and I would envisage maybe in the months and years to come - we'll be purchasing an extra tractor unit for deployment around the country."

When asked how the concept came about Insp Woods said: "The idea has been around for quite a while. We do a lot of work with RoadPol which is the European Roads Policing Network. We do a lot of work with RoadPol on multinational and multi-international operations. I was over in Belgium pre-pandemic in 2019 and saw the Belgian police had a tractor unit like this on their motorways.

"They actually had it marked up, fully marked up - so the idea sort of came around then, then it was put on the shelf during the pandemic and resurrected recently. So we've seen our colleagues in Belgium, France, Germany, they do it. Our colleagues in the UK do it as well.

"So eventually, about a month ago, we sourced this second-hand used tractor unit and we went live for the first time on the 19th of August.

"We've done three or four operations since as part of a pilot project if you like and so far anytime we've gone out, we've been able to detect in a six or eight hour window - up to 30 mobile offences, seatbelt offences that kind of thing."

Insp Woods added: "The concept is quite straightforward. The elevated position in the cab of the tractor unit allows us to see into all forms of transport on the roads.

"So we can see into other trucks, other high-sided vehicles and we can see down into cars and detect motorists committing offences such as holding a mobile phone, not wearing a seatbelt, or engaging in any other behaviour that might cause them to be distracted and result in serious or fatal injury, road traffic collisions."

Insp Woods said there are a limited number of gardai who can drive the truck at present but said more driving courses will be offered.

Insp Woods described unmarked trucks as "another tool in our belt" and it will allow cops to spot more offences in different types of vehicles.

It comes as Roads Policing Unit Superintendent Stephen McCauley said: "It's not always easy to clearly observe the irresponsible drivers of some vehicles on a dual carriage way or motorway so introducing an unmarked HGV will hugely support our work.

"Operations like this are important because they mean that those that are detected for a road traffic offence must consider their unsafe driving."

Inspector Peter Woods in the unmarked lorry at the wheel
Inspector Peter Woods in the unmarked lorry -Credit:Danny De Vaal / Reach Plc

"Drivers need to know that there is a real risk of them causing a fatal or serious injury collision if distracted and not keeping their full attention on the road. Ensuring that road users are safe requires us to keep at pace with the latest in technology and to be strategic about how we drive home the message.

"Our new HGV tractor unit will elevate our position on the roads and help us to detect any drivers committing offences but ultimately it's about keeping people safe."

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