Driver caught eating at the wheel

North Wales Police has welcomed the sentence given today by Prestatyn magistrates to a lorry driver caught steering with his knees while he ate spaghetti from a pan.

Martin Veens from the Netherlands was seen driving erratically along the A55 near Northop in Flinshire.

Footage taken by the police helicopter showed him holding a saucepan of food and eating with his right hand whilst steering the lorry with his legs.

Chief Superintendent Geraint Anwyl, head of North Wales Police's Operational Support Division said: "This is a further example of some of the unacceptable and dangerous practices of long-distance lorry drivers travelling on our roads. The frightening thing is that this is not an isolated incident."

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• truck
• driver
• north
• wales
• police
• a55

[VolvoFH12580]

he is stearing with his knees !

I drive similar lorries and i wouldnt even attempt that, and bear in mind he is most likely loaded up to his maximum train wieght of 44 tonne so if he cant use his legs to break in time immagine if that was you infront.

Good job they stopped him before he did kill some one.

[babamunky]

Fair enough I suppose, this guy was enjoying a full meal and steering with his knees so pull him over. Don't think it required full air support and SWAT team on standby, the police as usual spending to much time in the wrong areas.

[hidemysocks]

the radios are built into the car they don't need to use a hand to answer the call. plus they usually have a partner

[Razorback17]

They shouldn't (in North Wales at least); they have a hands-free system. There's a specific exclusion for radios (so you can still use a CB on the move, and forces with the old-style sets are legal), but the new Airwave system is actually classed as a mobile phone. It would still make sense for all police cars to be automatic though, like they are in most other countries.

[numptybaws3]

So how come the police still get to use their radios whilst driving do they change gear with a 3rd arm

[mailpauljonescouk]

Well done to the cops on this one! As a cyclist and pedestrian, I feel particularly vulnerable with HGVs near me. I see people eating, drinking, smoking, using mobile phones, distracted by GPS systems / CD players, arm hanging out of window etc while driving nearly every day. It obviously affects other people's safety when both hands aren't available.

[Dim3nsion2005]

i agree there!

[pakkinen]

a helicopter and 2 cars available fo this ?!?!?!!? to much free time and too many resources.....big brother really seems to work overtime in Wales

[estoyaqui85]

i think he didn't do nothing crazy or against public safety, honestly i think the police should arrest criminals, not hard-working people.

[teal96avalon]

Give me a break..