Police can't believe their eyes after mobile phone footage catches out M6 driver

Police were left stunned after viewing footage of a reckless driver on the M6. They could hardly believe their eyes as they watched the motorist 'doing balloons' while doing around 70mph on the motorway.

This usually means inhaling nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, from a balloon. A passenger in the BMW can also be seen with an orange balloon in the footage, recorded and sent to police by a member of the public.

The brazen actions came while driving at high speeds in full view of other motorists on the busy M6. Police tracked down the driver, who was hit with six points and a £700 fine. The footage has been released by West Midlands Police as part of a plea to the public to send in any footage of dangerous driving they see on the roads.

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This could include dashcam footage, CCTV or mobile phone recordings filmed by a passenger. The balloon incident was one of the more shocking examples spotted by the public.

Others included a drivers running a red light at a crossing, missing a pedestrian by seconds, and a taxi driver caught using his phone. Officers are keen to make more use of footage caught by the public, which can be sent to police online.

West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, Simon Foster, said: “Putting an end to dangerous driving is one of my top priorities, and I know it’s something that matters to the people of the West Midlands. These dangerous drivers need to be held to account and face the consequences of their actions.

"The public can aid us in doing that, so I’d urge anyone who has recorded footage to share it with the police, help bring perpetrators to justice, and ultimately reduce the number of people tragically and avoidably killed and seriously injured on our roads." Tanya Johnson, who heads up the Operation Snap team, added: “Road safety is an absolute priority for West Midlands Police and the work of our specialised team is already making a real difference.

"It doesn’t take long a member of the public to file a report and each one makes a real difference to road safety. Every dangerous driver who has been filmed and had to pay the price will, and should, be thinking again about the way they drive.”