Driver cops hefty fine after dashcam footage of near-miss on Northamptonshire road

Traffic cops have posted frightening footage or the ultimate ambulance chaser inches away from a horrific head-on smash.

The shocking dashcam video shows a motorist putting his foot down to follow an East Midlands Ambulance Service vehicle as it overtook traffic on the A5 near Towcester.

It nearly ends in disaster as the speeding car only just nips back on to the correct side of the road before ploughing into oncoming traffic, all just yards away from a pedestrian walking along an adjacent footpath.

But the incident still had an unhappy ending for the driver who wound up with a £574 bill in court fines and costs and six points on his licence after being caught with the help of Northamptonshire Police Operation Snap campaign which allows motorists with dashcams to submit their own video nasties of the dodgiest driving.

More than 250 clips uploaded to the Police website during one three-month period last year led to 100 notices of intended prosecution being sent out.

Driving without due care and attention — as here — was the most common offence detected with 39 registered owners getting a NIP in the post.

■ WATCH: More video nasties from the Op Snap dashcam files HERE

Those caught on camera ranged from drivers not being in proper control of a vehicle to overtaking a vehicle on approach to a zebra crossing, ignoring traffic lights and failing to comply with traffic signs.

Safer Roads Operations Manager, Matt O’Connell, said: “Through Operation Snap, we have thousands of additional pairs of eyes helping us to keep our roads safer.

"Thanks to the public’s support we are able to take action against driving offences we otherwise wouldn’t see.

"One of our policing priorities is to reduce numbers of people killed or seriously injured on our roads.

"As a result of Operation Snap, the chances of getting caught for committing traffic offences has increased, which can only be a good thing, and we hope this serves as an incentive for everyone to use our roads more safely.”