DANGEROUS drivers caught in the act by the police in a road safety initiative include one motorist boiling the kettle on his lorry dashboard in Surrey.

Footage filmed by police officers from the cab of a single unmarked HGV over the last two years and just released by Highways England, show drivers watching DVDs and reading books.

Three drivers from the same company in Hampshire were caught separately using their phones during a week, one of them watching YouTube.

The offenders were among more than 4,000 dangerous drivers on England’s roads brought to book during the operation.

The elevated position of the cab allows officers to film unsafe driving behaviour by pulling up alongside vehicles on motorways and major A roads. Drivers are then pulled over by police cars following behind.

Nearly two thirds of the drivers who were stopped were illegally using a mobile phone while driving, putting themselves and others at risk.

Latest statistics show that mobile phone use is a factor in an average of two deaths on the roads every month, with 124 people losing their lives over the past 5 years and 521 suffering a serious injury.

Richard Leonard, Highways England’s head of road safety, said: “The HGV cab, which is funded by Highways England, has been patrolling motorways and major A roads over the past couple of years with the aim of improving road safety.

“We’ve found that the vast majority of drivers are sensible behind the wheel but a few have got into bad habits, or are simply ignoring the law and putting themselves and others at risk.

“It’s shocking that around two thirds of the drivers that were stopped were using their phones when the statistics show that mobile phone use contributes to two deaths every month on the roads. We will continue to use the cab to tackle deaths and serious injuries and to encourage people to improve how they drive.”

National Police Chiefs’ council lead for roads policing, Chief Constable Anthony Bangham, said: “Police forces are committed to keeping our roads safe and partnership with Highways England is absolutely crucial for that, as we can see from the thousands of offences detected by the HGV cab. Together with targeted local action by police officers, this has become an important element of our intelligence-led operations against dangerous driving.

“Driving while distracted is completely unacceptable and police are also making use of the tougher new penalties to stop this dangerous behaviour by ensuring that offenders face the full weight of law.”

In total, 28 police forces have taken part in the HGV cab safety initiative since it began in April 2015, pulling over 4,176 drivers in relation to 5,039 offences.

Officers gave verbal advice to 388 drivers, issued 838 fixed or graduated penalty notices, and filed 3,318 traffic offence reports, usually requiring attendance at a driver education course. There were also 113 prosecutions for more serious offences.

Reasons for stopping drivers included:

• Using mobile phones – 2,508

• Not wearing seatbelts – 901

• Not in proper control of vehicles – 253

• Speeding – 249

Earlier this year, the government doubled the penalty for drivers caught using their phones at the wheel. Motorists now receive six points on their licence and a £200 fine – up from the previous three points and £100 fine.

• To see the footage go to youtu.be/TeFMkbU-zno.