A DRIVING instructor says motorists are putting their lives and those of others at risk after a video emerged of a woman watching TV on the A127.
The video, which has been viewed more than 90,000 times, shows the women being caught out by another motorist who films her watching TV as she drives along the busy road.
The video, which was shared on Facebook, also appears to show the woman drinking a cup of tea, while the TV programme is playing on a tablet mounted on the Ford Fiesta’s dashboard.
Tariq Musaji, 47, who runs independent driving school, Farrah Driving Training, believes action should be taken against irresponsible drivers.
He said: “It is totally irresponsible and this sort of behaviour puts their own lives at risk, but also the lives of other roadusers at risk too.
“It’s all about being distracted at the wheel. There are all kinds of distractions such as mobile phones or even sat nav systems.
“We have fewer traffic police on the road due to all the cuts. This has meant drivers are getting away with doing other things while driving, such as eating.
“We need more traffic police on the road to act as a deterrent and stop people becoming distracted while at the wheel.
“I would also like to see more safety campaigns. I think we need to change the attitude of drivers and use shock tactics in shocking films with statistics to show people the consequences of being distracted at the wheel.”
The video was uploaded by a man in the car behind and starts by following the woman’s Ford Fiesta as it drives London-bound on the A127.
He comments in the video she is watching TV and even enjoying a cup of tea while driving.
He later gets out to confront her when traffic comes to a halt.
Other people watching the video on Facebook expressed their outrage at both drivers’ behaviour.
One said: “While this is bad the guy filming her is just as bad as he’s filming on his phone while he should be driving”.
Another said: “He’s making a point of how bad she is, while committing a driving offence himself.”
Another person said: “What about the person he hits when he is too busy fiddling with his phone to notice.
“This man’s post is a massive case of the pot calling the kettle black. They both need shaming, they’re both idiots.”
A spokesman for Essex Police said officers from the Road Policing Unit are looking into the incident and will decide whether to launch an investigation.
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