M1 Driver Flips Off Police, Gets Fined as 13K Speeders Caught

A moment of bravado turned into a costly lesson for a van driver on the M1 recently when his obscene hand gestures were directed at an unsuspecting, yet highly observant, audience: police officers in an unmarked HGV.

The incident occurred during a targeted four-day road safety operation led by Nottinghamshire Police, using an elevated HGV cab, often referred to as a 'supercab,' to spot offences typically missed by standard patrol cars.

'Nottinghamshire Police Catch'

The van driver, travelling along the M1 last Friday morning (October 3), began gesticulating rudely at the occupants of a passing HGV cab, unaware that the vehicle was being utilised by the force’s roads policing team.

Upon being pulled over by a nearby police car, the driver quickly expressed his apologies. However, his initial warning for his crude behaviour was superseded by a more concrete penalty: a fine for not wearing a seatbelt while driving.

PC Pearce Riley of Nottinghamshire Police highlighted the severity of the offence despite the amusing nature of the initial incident. "Whilst this incident understandably caused some amusement among the team, the potential consequences of not wearing a seatbelt really are no laughing matter," PC Riley stated. "Had this man been involved in a motorway collision, his chances of walking away uninjured—or even walking away at all—would have been greatly reduced."

The officer added that the purpose of the operations, which netted over 50 fines in just four days for a range of offences including mobile phone use, dangerously damaged tyres, and overweight loads, is not to 'catch people out' but to "reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries on our road network."

Massive Enforcement in Gloucestershire

The M1 incident follows a far-reaching crackdown in Gloucestershire, where enforcement has seen a staggering number of drivers prosecuted for exceeding temporary speed limits.

Gloucestershire Police and National Highways confirmed this week that more than 13,000 motorists have been caught speeding through the 40mph zones on the A417 Missing Link roadworks since average speed cameras were installed last November. Each offence carries a minimum penalty of a £100 fine and three penalty points.

The A417 is currently undergoing a £460 million dual carriageway upgrade, and the temporary 40mph limits are in place to protect both road users and construction workers.

Celine Acard, Senior Project Manager for National Highways, issued a stark warning to drivers flouting the restrictions. "Safety is our number one priority," she emphasised. "For the sake of shaving an extra minute or two off their journey times, some drivers are putting their own safety and the safety of our roadworkers at risk. Our staff and contractors... are entitled to do that safely without the threat of being maimed or killed by someone recklessly speeding through the roadworks."

Officials note that adhering to the temporary 40mph limit adds less than one minute to a journey, urging drivers to prioritise safety over speed and avoid the penalty points and financial cost of a fixed fine. The A417 Missing Link project is scheduled to be completed by Spring 2027.