A lorry driver was caught using a laptop computer at the wheel during a police clampdown on dangerous driving on West Yorkshire’s motorways.

Police have started a month-long campaign targeting truckers, following complaints from other motorists about bad practice.

Officers in West Yorkshire Police’s roads policing unit will be travelling along the county’s motorways – including the M606 in Bradford – in their own unmarked lorry to root out HGV drivers who are breaking the law.

They will have a camera on board to film motorists around them. Police say it will allow them to monitor other drivers without them knowing they are being watched.

The driver caught using the laptop was on the M62, said police. Since the operation started this week, numerous lorry drivers have been spotted driving dangerously – including ones caught using a mobile phone at the wheel.

Chief Inspector Mark Bownass, who leads the roads policing unit, said: “The sort of complaints we are regularly getting are that lorry drivers are tailgating other drivers, that they are pulling in front of drivers without warning, using hand-held mobile phones and eating or drinking while driving.

“Obviously it’s not just lorry drivers who are doing this, but they are often more noticeable to other motorists and should take extra responsibility when driving such large and heavy vehicles.”

Ch Insp Bownass said drivers of smaller vehicles would also be targeted during the campaign. He said: “Motorway units in unmarked vehicles will be patrolling as well, looking for dangerous drivers in cars and vans.

“All drivers need to think about the standard of their driving and what they do whilst behind the wheel. At the least they could end up with points on their licence and at the worst they could cause someone’s death.

“If this operation prevents just one accident then it will have been a success. We hope that this operation will act as a warning to all drivers that we will be out there watching, but you won’t know when.

“I am obviously aware of a lot of good lorry drivers. It is only a few that are destroying their reputation with other motorists.”

The police scheme, titled Operation Etwall, is running until the end of June. It will also run at other times throughout the year.