UPDATE: |The ‘undercover’ Bee Network bus catching drivers in the act across Greater Manchester News

Police have used the bus in the fight against dangerous drivers

Cops have a new undercover weapon in the fight against danger drivers – a bright yellow Bee Network bus.

They’re an everyday sight on streets across Greater Manchester, but one special single-decker was packed with police rather than passengers for the first in a series of planned crackdowns.

Police and National Highways have been using HGVs to catch unsuspecting motorists for years. With their higher driving positions, commandeered HGVs have enabled officers on board to record drivers using their mobile phones behind the wheel and committing other serious motoring offences.

Inspired by that, Greater Manchester Police said the principle has now been adapted to a Bee Network bus running on key arterial routes throughout Greater Manchester.

And the Manchester Evening News can reveal 31 offences were detected in total during the first run of the bus in February – including an HGV driver suspected of watching Netflix on a dash-mounted mobile phone.

Of the 31, the force said 15 drivers were caught on their mobiles at the wheel, with a further eight reported for ‘inconsiderate driving’. The figure also included seat belt and insurance offences, with a further operation planned for May in conjunction with Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM).

TfGM confirmed a trial of out-of-service Bee Network buses ‘as a way of identifying drivers putting other road users at risk’.

The bus in February had GMP spotters and evidence gatherers on board. It was followed by force outriders from the motorcycle unit, who were alerted to deal with any offences observed by the spotting team and subsequently pulled over the motorists witnessed.

The M.E.N. understands the Mancunian Way and Chester Road in Trafford were included as part of February’s action, as well as routes in Salford.

GMP said the operation involved its Specialist Operations Branch and Safer Roads Policing team. A spokesperson said the bus allowed ‘officers to travel around key routes during peak periods and use the elevated height to catch drivers in the act, usually whilst distracted by the use of their phone’.

“The offences are captured on camera and where possible our motorcycle unit swoop in to educate the driver at the time after pulling the driver over in a safe location,” the force said.

Join the Manchester Evening News WhatsApp group HERE

Sergeant Neil Dalley, from GMP’s Commercial Vehicle Unit, said: “We are constantly trying to send a clear and strong message that if you do take the chance of being on your phone whilst driving you are breaking the law.

“This means you will receive the relevant punishment when caught, which can include potentially losing your licence, having to pay a large fine and in some cases of causing serious injury having to spend time behind bars meaning it isn’t worth the risk.”

Peter Boulton, TfGM Highways Network Director, said: “Whether its drivers, cyclists or pedestrians, everyone is entitled to be able to use our roads safely, and by adopting Vision Zero last year, Greater Manchester is working towards eliminating all road traffic fatalities and life-changing injuries in the region by 2040.

“Becoming distracted while driving is a significant cause of road collisions which lead to the death or serious injury of drivers, passengers and other road users. If you use your phone while driving, you are four times more likely to be in a crash, so it’s really not worth the risk.

“Between 2014 and 2024, there were 1,174 incidents where driver distraction was a contributing factor, with 117 serious collisions and 17 resulting in fatalities. Behind every statistic is a human being, and every death or life-changing injury has an immeasurable cost to family, friends and communities.”