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Van driver is caught with a book open on his wheel while driving on the M26 in Kent

Footage shows the middle-aged motorist with a book propped up on the steering wheel during a rush-hour traffic jam

THIS is the shocking moment a white van man is caught reading while driving on a busy motorway.

Footage shows the middle-aged motorist with a book propped up on the steering wheel during a rush-hour traffic jam in Kent.

His eyes appear to be buried in the pages rather than on the road.

Road safety campaigners blasted the motorist as "idiotic" and "dangerous".

The 20-second clip was taken by a photographer on the M26 at Wrotham Heath.

The passenger, 35, who was on his way home from work when the spotted the reckless act, said: "It's absolutely shocking.

"As a photographer I am on the road a lot and there are certain things you can't do.

"You can't have your book out on the steering wheel driving along a busy motorway.

"It's unbelievable."

 Footage shows the middle-aged motorist with a book propped up on the steering wheel during a rush-hour traffic jam on the M26 in Wrotham Heath, Kent.
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Footage shows the middle-aged motorist with a book propped up on the steering wheel during a rush-hour traffic jam on the M26 in Wrotham Heath, Kent.

A car is seen pulling up next to the white van man who appears to be reading his book while crawling in a traffic jam.

His van then stops briefly before he looks up then back down at his book and adjusts his glasses while driving off.

It was captured on the M26 as it merges onto the coast-bound M20 at 6.20pm on Friday.

Jack Kushner, spokesperson for road safety charity Brake, said: “This is an idiotic and dangerous thing to do when behind the wheel.

"Drivers need both hands on the wheel and eyes on the road, and this clip shows a shocking disregard for the safety of other road users.

"It is estimated that one in five road crashes are caused by distracted drivers, and to see a driver so blatantly not concentrating on what they are doing is shocking.

"Brake wants to see the police and the courts get tough on selfish and dangerous drivers.”

Kent Police confirmed it is investigating the incident.

A force spokesman said: "It is in everyone’s interest and safety for all motorists to obey road traffic legislation.

"Kent Police will continue to use Notices of Intended Prosecution, as well as other measures, to enforce the law and keep our roads safe."

Last May a trucker was pulled over by motorway cops for reading a book while driving at 60mph.

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