Disqualified driver on 18 penalty points stopped by police on M56

Officers from Cheshire Police's rural and road crime teams stopped the driver of a grey Renault van off the M56 on Friday. This was after an officer in an unmarked police car witnessed the driver conducting a dangerous manoeuvre, almost causing a crash, and driving at speed. Once stopped, checks revealed that the driver was disqualified, with 18 points already on his licence, and a roadside test indicated positive for drug-driving.

Sergeant Rob Simpson, of the rural crime team, said: "A van driver swerved out of lane three on the M56 and almost collided with a vehicle in lane two, before accelerating well above the speed limit, forcing other motorists to move aside. What the driver did not realise was that the vehicle he nearly hit was our unmarked police car. Thanks to our roads and crime unit colleagues for assisting with the stop, the driver was found to be disqualified from driving, already on 18 points, and positive at the roadside for drug-driving.

Road safety matters.

Every decision behind the wheel has consequences.

We all have a part to play in tackling the fatal five offences and keeping our roads safe."