The UK’s Highways England has announced plans to fund three new unmarked HGV cabs in a bid to tackle dangerous driving on national motorways and major A roads.

The decision was taken after the first vehicle used by police forces helped to catch more than 4,000 dangerous drivers in the first two years.

Equipped with wide-angle cameras, these cars will be used to patrol motorways and main trunk roads to record unsafe driving behaviour.

The vehicles also have a restricted speed limiter to travel at speeds up to the national speed limit, as well as flashing lights that can be used by police in emergencies.

“We’ve found that the vast majority of drivers are sensible behind the wheel, but a few have got into bad habits.”

Highways England Road Safety head Richard Leonard said: “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.

“We’ve therefore decided to fund two extra unmarked HGV cabs, including one based with police forces in the Midlands, to continue to target dangerous driving on England’s motorways and major A roads, improving safety for everyone.”

The HGV cab safety initiative began in April 2015 and since then 28 police forces across England have participated in it catching 4,176 drivers associated with 5,039 offences.

In the East Midlands, 199 drivers were caught in relation to 122 offences, while 576 drivers were pulled over in the West Midlands in relation to 634 offences.

Last year, the government increased the fine for drivers caught using their phones at the wheel to six points on their licence with a £200 penalty.