M5 middle lane hogger watching YouTube on phone gets pulled over
A driver hogging the middle lane of a stretch of the M5 through Gloucestershire gets pulled over by a police officer in unbelievable scenes set to be televised tonight. PC Merchant can be seen cruising down the M5 between Cheltenham and Gloucester at night as he comes across a vehicle doing something most drivers hate.
The driver of the vehicle pulled out in front of the Gloucestershire police officer[1] without using their indicators to sit in the middle lane. “He was sat in lane two and everyone knows that is a pet hate for most people,” PC Merchant[2] explains to viewers in the episode that’s set to air on Channel 5’s Police: Night Shift 999 tonight (July 31).
“HGVs can’t undertake them but they can’t go into lane three so then you’re holding up traffic. It’s just a nightmare for everyone.”
As he drives past the slip road to head towards Gloucester[4] and Cirencester[5], PC Merchant gets into lane three to see what the driver is doing. Viewers will notice a phone screen illuminating the otherwise dark car.
“Let’s have a look,” PC Merchant said, as he studied the driver. “Ah, look how they’ve got their phone. Are they watching something on TV or is that a screensaver?”
PC Merchant was driving down the M5 when he noticed the driver’s glowing phone screen (Image: Channel 5)
PC Merchant then realised that the absent-minded driver was watching a video on his phone, which explained why he was hogging the middle lane. Although it is legal to use a phone in a windscreen mount or dashboard holder for navigation purposes when driving, as is using a hands-free device to take calls when driving, it should go without saying that drivers should not watch videos, TV shows or films whilst behind the wheel.
“As I’ve gone to overtake him, he’s watching what looks like a YouTube video and his driving’s been impacted by it,” PC Merchant explained. “He’s been sat in the middle lane when he could come into lane one and he’s also been in lane three.”
PC Merchant then turns on the sirens, and the car can be seen pulling over onto the hard shoulder. Viewers will have to tune into Police: Night Shift 999 on Channel 5 at 9pm tonight, Monday, July 31, to see what happens next.
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References
- ^ Gloucestershire police officer (www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk)
- ^ PC Merchant (www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk)
- ^ Barbie star Margot Robbie swaps pink gowns for hoodies as she relaxes at exclusive Cotswolds retreat (www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk)
- ^ Gloucester (www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk)
- ^ Cirencester (www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk)
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