The new unmarked Garda lorry has already caught more than 100 drivers breaking the rules of the road.

The white lorry looks just like any other you might meet on the road – until it flashes it blue lights at unsuspecting drivers.

The tractor unit makes it easier for Gardaí to spot drivers using their phones – and gives them the height they need to see what large truck drivers are doing in their cabins.

The vehicle is followed down the road by ‘interceptor’ cars that stop offending drivers while the truck continues on its route.

Garda Inspector Peter Woods told Newstalk reporter Alex Rowley that they have already seen drivers breaking the rules of the road in a range of different ways – including steering with their knees and watching Netflix on their laptop.

“Holding a mobile phone or not wearing a seatbelt – they are specific offences in themselves,” he said.

“But something like watching a movie on your tablet or your laptop or using a mobile phone to Facetime family or friends, while they are not specific offences themselves, they could be causes of distracted or dangerous driving that can lead to sort of serious injury and fatal road traffic collisions.”

One truck driver pulled over for not wearing his seatbelt while Alex was on patrol with the Gardaí was already on nine penalty points and is likely to be disqualified from driving.

“He initially tried to deny it,” said Sergeant Rob Griffin.

“Obviously he had put on the seatbelt by the time I had pulled them over.

“I then asked him if he saw my colleagues in the truck beside him to which he said he did and he was willing to put his hands up to it.

“Unfortunately, he said he is at nine penalty points and with these three penalty points that will have him serving a disqualification for penalty points and as a professional driver that could be very detrimental towards his career and his work life.”

The unmarked Garda lorry being used as part of Operation Iompar. Image: Newstalk/Alex Rowley

Some 421 people received penalty points and fines for mobile phone use last month.

Meanwhile, road deaths in Ireland currently stand at 131 – which is two more than the same time last year.

Sergeant Griffin said telling someone their family member has died in a crash never gets easier.

“There is no training for that,” he said.

“You can be told anything from a book but nobody can train you for the reaction of the family member because each person deals with grief differently.

“It is important that you be clear in your message and not to give them any false hope or ambiguity.”

While Alex was in the truck yesterday, the team caught two HGV drivers not wearing seatbelts in the space of a few minutes.

The truck could soon be coming to a local community near you, with word that it has already carried out successful operations in Naas and Dublin.

Reporting from Alex Rowley.