Police seize Northampton driver's car seized 30 SECONDS after he bought it

One unhappy driver lost his shiny new set of wheels before the ink was dry on the logbook.

But it could have been worse as he narrowly missed writing off a police car less than a minute after buying a Renault Megane in Northampton, according to police.

Officers say they pulled the vehicle over following the near-miss and quickly called for a tow truck after finding the driver had not taken out insurance before driving off.

A tweet from one of Northamptonshire Police's volunteer special constables said: "This vehicle almost has a head on with our motor. The driver then told officers he brought the car 30 seconds ago — and for once this was actually true.

"Unfortunately took his chances not insuring it. And well you all know what happens next."

Driving without insurance topped the list of most common traffic offences landing drivers in trouble during the first month of Operation Journey, a road safety campaign launched by Northamptonshire Police in October.

During the first four weeks of the campaign, 366 motoring offences were detected in the county, 64 vehicles seized and 19 people arrested.

In the first four weeks of Operation Journey, the main offences detected were:

■ 112 driving without valid insurance

■ 74 non-wearing of seat belts

■ 35 driving otherwise in accordance with a licence

■ 28 driving while not in proper control of a vehicle

■ 22 defective tyres

■ 17 using a mobile phone behind the wheel

■ 15 dangerous loads

■ 71 vehicles seized — 47 for no insurance and 24 for no licence

■ 9 people arrested – five for driving while disqualified and four for drink-driving.

Those flouting the law are reported for the offences and will be offered the opportunity to take an online education course if eligible, receive a fixed penalty fine or if preferred, the option to go to court.

Detective Inspector Tony Kennedy of Northamptonshire Police’s Operation Team, said: “Road safety is the responsibility of everyone, and although the majority of people use our roads safely, there is a minority who still choose to put their own lives and that of others at risk by using our roads irresponsibly and illegally.

“To improve road safety, we need to change how our roads are used by challenging the behaviour of those who think they are above the law.

"However, we cannot do this on our own, and we need everyone to play their part to help save lives.”

Among the vehicles seized last month was a VW Polo delivering someone's diner — the takeaway driver was not insured.— while two vehicles were clocked at 100mph-plus on the A14 near Kettering within minutes of each other.