The video footage is enough to send a shiver down the spine of all sensible drivers.
Out of nowhere a Vauxhall Insignia speeds past, veering across to the wrong side of the road and passing a stationary car waiting to turn in the middle of the carriageway.
The video brought the York driver, Marc Hyland, to court.
It was the first case of its kind to prompt a prosecution after a member of the public reported poor driving through the police’s Operation Spartan online form.
Long driving ban
Hyland, 25, from Bell Farm Avenue in York, appeared in Northallerton Magistrates on Monday (April 24) and pleaded guilty to dangerous driving on the A19 near Thormanby.
He received a 12 week prison sentence, suspended for one year, and was handed a 20 month driving ban.
He was also ordered to pay £170 in costs, complete 250 hours of unpaid work and after serving his driving ban has to face an extended driving test.
On January 26, Hyland was driving his Vauxhall Insignia on the A19 towards Thirsk, when he undertook the dangerous overtake.
Driving at high speed he crossed solid white lines in a shocking manoeuvre captured on the dashcam of a lorry driver.
That lorry driver later reported the incident via North Yorkshire Police’s online driver concern form and submitted the footage to the force’s Operation Spartan.
Could have ended tragically
“This is the first prosecution which is a direct result of a member of the public reporting through the online driver concern form and we are pleased with the sentence given to Hyland,” said TS Zoe Billings from the major collision investigation unit.
“As the footage clearly shows, his driving that day was highly irresponsible and incredibly dangerous and it’s only through sheer luck he didn’t meet any oncoming traffic.
“This could have ended tragically.”
How to help
With more than 6,000 miles of roads to police, officers “cannot be everywhere policing every mile – but members of the public can be our eyes and ears”, TS Billings said.
“With their assistance, we can get dangerous drivers off the road and make our region a safer place to travel.”
She encouraged other people to submit reports and footage to Op Spartan.
Alternatively you can send footage via a file sharing service service such as WeTransfer or Dropbox via the email [email protected]
She added: “Every report and piece of footage that is submitted is assessed by experienced traffic officers and as this case demonstrates, the relevant action will be taken.”