Heart-stopping moment drink driver travelling the wrong way down the M1 while three times over the limit narrowly avoids head-on crash with a lorry
This is the heart-racing moment a drink driver travelling the wrong way in the fast lane of a motorway narrowly avoids a head-on collision with a lorry.
The driver, in his 30s, was over three times the legal alcohol[2] limit when he headed down the M1 Southbound near Sheffield at 2.45am.
The terrifying footage lorries had thundering past him as he continued to drive in the lane nearest the central median in South Yorkshire on March 9.
Police received 'numerous calls' about the driver - who was first spotted near Junction 35A - with several motorists forced to take evasive action to avoid crashes.
National Highways traffic cameras spotted the intoxicated motorist driving on the wrong side of the road for two junctions before he finally left the carriageway.
A driver in his 30s, who was three times over the legal alcohol limit drove in the path of oncoming traffic for two junctions near Sheffield on March 9 (pictured)
The driver was stopped by officers and breathalysed. He blew 125 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath, with the legal limit being 35.
After being pulled over by police, he was arrested on suspicion of driving while over the prescribed limit of alcohol and dangerous driving.
The unnamed motorist remains on police bail.
Roads Policing Inspector Matt Collings, from South Yorkshire Police, said the driver had been fortunate to not have cause a 'fatal collision'.
'This sequence of driving could have had catastrophic consequences and caused a fatal collision as poor judgment meant the vehicle's erratic driving continued for two junctions,' he said.
'Alcohol seriously affects your judgement and reaction time, and you are four times more likely to be involved in a collision if you are under the influence of alcohol.
'Stopping those who pose a risk on our roads is daily business for officers across South Yorkshire.'
MailOnline has approached South Yorkshire Police for comment.
The man blew 125 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath, with the legal limit being 35. He has been arrested and remains on police bail
AlcoholSouth Yorkshire Police[3][4]References
- ^ Shannon Mcguigan (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ alcohol (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Alcohol (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ South Yorkshire Police (www.dailymail.co.uk)