Shocking dash-cam footage has led to a driver being penalised after a reckless overtaking manoeuvre that nearly caused a head-on collision.
"No Regard for Others": The Incident
The incident occurred in August on the Rugby Western Relief Road. The driver, a 52-year-old man from Rugby, ignored a keep-left sign and pulled onto the wrong side of the road to overtake. The manoeuvre was so aggressive that smoke was seen coming from the car's tyres.
He narrowly avoided smashing into an oncoming vehicle, an act described by police as showing "no regard for others". The entire event was recorded on another motorist's dash-camera.
Legal Consequences and Police Warning
Following a review of the submitted footage, Warwickshire Police prosecuted the driver. He was fined, ordered to pay costs, and received nine penalty points on his driving licence.
Inspector Dave Valente of Warwickshire Police stated: "This driver ignored a keep-left sign, nearly hit an oncoming car, and showed no regard for others. The sentence reflects this as the outcome could have been so much worse. We hope being so close to losing his licence will now encourage him to be a better driver."
Operation Snap: The Public's Role in Road Safety
The case was progressed through Operation Snap, the police initiative that allows the public to submit video evidence of traffic offences. A police spokesperson highlighted that one in five drivers now uses a dash-cam.
"Little did he know that one in five drivers have a dash-cam," the spokesperson said. "They use it to submit footage of moving traffic offences to our Operation Snap for review by a road traffic officer. Where the evidence is strong, we progress the case."
The police are actively encouraging more submissions to help improve road safety. Offences suitable for Operation Snap include:
- Dangerous or careless driving
- Using a mobile phone while driving
- Ignoring traffic lights
- Driving too close or too fast past cyclists and horse riders
The force concluded by urging the public: "We're asking the public to please keep submitting moving footage of traffic offences like this to us to help make our roads safer." More details about Operation Snap can be found on the Warwickshire Police website.
