A RECKLESS MOTORIST has been caught on camera catching up on her soaps whilst behind the wheel of her car that shows evidence of previous scrapes.
Road Safety experts have described the actions of the driver as ‘the height of stupidity’ – looking at the screen for seconds could mean the difference between life and death for a pedestrian.
The incident that happened on the A602 in Stevenage on November 10 at 4.22pm, was captured on camera by Jay Beecroft.
He was a passenger in a van behind the blue Skoda Roomster, when the device on the dashboard caught his attention, he then began to record with his mobile phone.
Jay, 35 said: “She’s watching TV, yeah she’s watching a f****ng TV show.”
He later shared the clip on social media attracting hundreds of comments with many viewers urging him to submit the footage to the Police.
Simon Abell commented: “This looks like a send to the police situation to me.”
Jonathan Coleman wrote: “No wonder the backend is already caved in.”
Kerrie Suzanne McDowell said: “I thought you were going to zoom in on some porn.”
Alex McKee added: “Yet she still managed to indicate off the roundabout unlike your driver.”
According to The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 – No person shall drive, or cause or permit to be driven, a motor vehicle on a road, if the driver is in such a position as to be able to see, whether directly or by reflection, a television receiving apparatus or other cinematographic apparatus used to display anything other than information.
Such as the state of the vehicle or its equipment, the location of the vehicle and the road on which it is located, or to assist the driver to see the road adjacent to the vehicle or to reach his destination.
In this regulation “television receiving apparatus” means any cathode ray tube carried on a vehicle and on which there can be displayed an image derived from a television broadcast, a recording or a camera or computer.
Edmund King, AA president, said: “It is astonishing that anyone should even contemplate watching television while they drive.
“This is the height of stupidly and incredibly dangerous driving.
“Looking away for just two seconds could be the difference between life and death for a pedestrian crossing the road ahead.
“It is perhaps not surprising that this driver’s car has been in previous scrapes.”
Earlier this year a motorist was fined after he was spotted watching television whilst driving on the M6 motorway in the Midlands.
The 38-year-old man from Stoke was later given a telling off and £100 fine by Staffordshire Police.
