HGV driver caught rolling cigarette while on M5
A HGV driver who rolled a cigarette with no hands on the wheel was among 58 motorists caught in a police crackdown last month.
Gloucestershire Police used an unmarked lorry to catch unsafe driving behaviour on the M5, leading to court summons and traffic offence reports.
The HGV driver was stopped by officers after being filmed between junctions 8 and 14.
Sgt Matt Firth said cutting the number of people killed or seriously injured on the county's roads "continues to be a priority" for the force.
More news stories for Gloucestershire
Listen to the latest news for Gloucestershire
National Highways has three unmarked HGV cabs which it loans out to police forces across the country as part of Operation Tramline.
The driver of a tow truck was pulled over and received a ban as officers found it had no brakes and an insecure load.
Officers also pulled over two drivers towing vehicles while in the third lane of the motorway, which is not permitted according to the Highway Code.
Drivers were also stopped for offences such as not wearing a seatbelt and using a mobile phone behind the wheel.
Sgt Matt Firth from the force's roads policing unit 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."
Follow BBC Gloucestershire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.
Children 'dodge cars' as car park remains closed
Major motorway project 'unlocks' thousands of homes
Police crackdown on dangerous parking as trial begins
Gloucestershire Constabulary
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Man, 92, to be sentenced for rape and murder of woman in 1967
A 92-year-old man is to be sentenced after being convicted of the rape and murder of an elderly widow in 1967. Ryland Headley was found guilty of both charges by a jury at Bristol Crown Court on Monday afternoon, in what is thought to be the UK's longest-running cold case to be solved. He was 34 when he forced open a window at the home of Louisa Dunne, 75, in the Easton area of Bristol in June 1967 before attacking her. Mrs Dunne, a mother-of-two, was found dead by neighbours in the front room of her terraced home in Britannia Road on the morning of June 28. A pathologist concluded that Mrs Dunne died from asphyxia due to strangulation and pressure on her mouth, probably from a hand being held over it. Bristol Constabulary, as the force was then, launched a huge investigation, taking the palm prints of 19,000 men and boys in an attempt to find a match to one left on an upstairs window. But the case remained unsolved for more than 50 years until Avon and Somerset Police detectives sent items from the original investigation for DNA testing for the first time. Semen recovered from a blue skirt worn by Mrs Dunne matched Headley's DNA to a ratio that meant it was a billion times more likely to be from him than anybody else. When his left palm print was finally taken, in November last year, it matched the print left at the scene. Since Mrs Dunne's murder, Headley had moved his family to Ipswich, where he was jailed for raping two elderly women after forcing open windows at their homes in October 1977. Headley, of Clarence Road, Ipswich, denied Mrs Dunne's rape and murder but was found guilty by a jury after nine hours and 53 minutes of deliberations. Mr Justice Sweeting will sentence him on Tuesday morning.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Dog sprayed with 'substance' as neighbour arrested
A man has been arrested after a dog was sprayed in the face with a 'substance'. Merseyside Police were called to Chatsworth Drive in Edge Hill at around 5.30pm on Monday, June 30, to reports a neighbour had attacked a German Shepherd with a substance. Following inquiries and a search of an address, police found the female dog had been sprayed in her face with deodorant. A male was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage in relation to the dog and will be questioned, police said. The dog has been seen by a vet and there are no lasting effects. She has now returned home. READ MORE: Mum's face 'pouring with blood' after dog attack on Mathew Street READ MORE: Prison officer jailed for what she hid in her bra after 'threats' from inmates A spokesperson for Merseyside Police said: "We can confirm that a 50-year-old man from Edge Hill has been arrested after a dog was sprayed with a substance causing discomfort. "Officers were called to Chatsworth Drive at 5.29pm this evening (Monday, June 30) following reports that a neighbour had attacked a German Shepherd dog with a substance. "Following inquiries and a search of an address it transpired that the dog had had a deodorant sprayed in her face. A male arrested was on suspicion of criminal damage in relation to the dog and will be questioned. "The dog has been seen by a vet and fortunately there are no lasting effects and she is now back at home." For the latest news and breaking news visit Get all the big headlines, pictures, analysis, opinion and video on the stories that matter to you by signing up to our daily and breaking newsletter. Sign up to our breaking news newsletter here. Follow us on Twitter @LivECHONews - the official Liverpool ECHO Twitter account - real news in real time. We're also on Facebook/theliverpoolecho - your must-see news, features, videos and pictures throughout the day from the Liverpool ECHO.
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Bob Vylan and Kneecap face criminal probe as BBC Glastonbury coverage criticised
Kneecap and Bob Vylan are facing criminal police investigations for their performances at Glastonbury Festival as US authorities confirmed the latter group have been banned from entering the country. The BBC also expressed regret at not pulling its livestream of Bob Vylan's 'unacceptable' set, with the Culture Secretary claiming the issue should have been foreseeable and constituted 'a problem of leadership' for the broadcaster. Bobby Vylan, one half of the British rap punk duo, led crowds at the festival's West Holts Stage on Saturday in chants of 'Free, free Palestine' and 'Death, death to the IDF (Israel Defence Forces)'. In their own set on the stage directly afterwards, Irish rap trio Kneecap similarly led chants of 'Free Palestine' while member Liam Og O hAnnaidh, who appeared in court earlier this month charged with a terror offence, wore a keffiyeh during the performance. Fellow member JJ O Dochartaigh also wore a T-shirt that said: 'We are all Palestine Action' in reference to the soon-to-be-banned campaign group. Avon and Somerset Police said they had launched a probe on Monday into both performances at the festival after reviewing video footage and audio recordings, with a senior detective appointed to lead it. A police spokesman said: 'This has been recorded as a public order incident at this time while our inquiries are at an early stage. 'The investigation will be evidence-led and will closely consider all appropriate legislation, including relating to hate crimes.' US deputy secretary of state Christopher Landau announced that Bob Vylan's US visas had been revoked due to 'their hateful tirade at Glastonbury', with the duo scheduled to tour in Chicago, Brooklyn and Philadelphia in October. The BBC has faced strong criticism for continuing to livestream their performance on iPlayer with on-screen warnings about discriminatory language, leading to broadcasting regulator Ofcom saying it was 'very concerned' by the decision. In a statement on Monday, the BBC said: 'Millions of people tuned in to enjoy Glastonbury this weekend across the BBC's output but one performance within our livestreams included comments that were deeply offensive. 'The BBC respects freedom of expression but stands firmly against incitement to violence. 'The antisemitic sentiments expressed by Bob Vylan were utterly unacceptable and have no place on our airwaves. 'We welcome Glastonbury's condemnation of the performance. 'The performance was part of a livestream of the West Holts stage on BBC iPlayer. 'The judgment on Saturday to issue a warning on screen while streaming online was in line with our editorial guidelines. 'In addition, we took the decision not to make the performance available on demand. 'The team were dealing with a live situation, but with hindsight we should have pulled the stream during the performance. 'We regret this did not happen.' Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said the Government was 'exasperated' with the 'lack of account from the leadership' at the BBC during a statement to the Commons on Monday. Addressing a point from Jim Allister, TUV MP for North Antrim, that the livestream was 'an appalling pro-terrorist broadcast', Ms Nandy said: 'He will know that this Government supports the BBC. 'We believe it is an important institution. 'That is why we are so disappointed that this has happened, why we have been so exasperated with the lack of account from the leadership, not just about this, but about a previous Gaza documentary and a number of other issues as well. 'The BBC is one of the most important institutions in our country, and that is the reason why it is held to the highest of standards.' Ms Nandy said the incident had raised 'very, very serious questions at the highest levels of the BBC about the operational oversight and the way in which editorial standards are understood', adding that she wanted to see 'rapid action' from the broadcaster. Glastonbury Festival itself also condemned Bob Vylan's chants, saying it was 'appalled' by what was said on stage. A statement on Instagram said: 'Their chants very much crossed a line and we are urgently reminding everyone involved in the production of the festival that there is no place at Glastonbury for antisemitism, hate speech or incitement to violence.' Bob Vylan, who formed in Ipswich in 2017, have released four albums addressing issues to do with racism, masculinity and class. Bobby Vylan's real name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, 34, according to reports. In a statement posted to Instagram, Vylan said: 'Teaching our children to speak up for the change they want and need is the only way that we make this world a better place. 'As we grow older and our fire starts to possibly dim under the suffocation of adult life and all its responsibilities, it is incredibly important that we encourage and inspire future generations to pick up the torch that was passed to us.' Kneecap have been in the headlines after member O hAnnaidh, who performs under the name Mo Chara, was charged with a terror offence. In reference to his bandmate's upcoming court date, Naoise O Caireallain told Glastonbury they would 'start a riot outside the courts', before clarifying: 'No riots, just love and support, and support for Palestine.'