THIS is the moment a reckless scooter driver speeds along the pavement before veering into the road - almost causing a head-on crash - and then drives off.

The shocking display of anti-social behaviour was caught on camera by a motorist travelling through Burgess Hill.

Police have launched an investigation to track down the driver of the scooter, which had no rear licence plate number.

The incident happened in Junction Road and was captured on film by a driver with a dashboard camera, who did not want to be identified for fear of reprisals.

As he drives along, the scooter appears in the left of the camera driving at speed along the pavement.

The scooter then veers onto the road just in front of the travelling car.

Tailgating the car ahead, the scooter driver attempts to overtake forcing the oncoming car, driven by mother-of-two Krissi Shirley, to slam on the brakes to avoid a head-on crash.

Mrs Shirley, who had her two young children in the car, said: “I couldn't believe it when I suddenly saw him there.

“Of course I had already seen him in the line of traffic but I didn't think in a million years he would suddenly overtake like that. I was probably less than a metre from hitting him and if I hadn't of slammed my brakes on I definitely would have.

“My daughter's were fine but burst into tears at the impact of brakes being slammed on.”

 


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Peter Chapman, editor of Burgess Hill Uncovered where the video was first uploaded, said the footage was just “the tip of the iceberg” with a string of scooter-related problems recently.

He added: “This has become an issue in Burgess Hill. I have had lots of people contact me about scooter drivers.

“I hope the police catch the driver as it might make the difference and make others think they should not drive anti-socially or they might get caught.

“But there are also innocent scooter drivers saying these road users are giving them a bad name.”

Neil Hopkins, communications officer for Sussex Safer Road Partnership, said the “dangerous, unskilled piece of riding” included a catalogue of errors.

He added: “It is shocking and I'm sure all those who witnessed it were equally shocked by the rider's actions.

“Had the rider hit someone walking on the pavement, then I'm sure that the result would have been some extremely serious injuries. And had the approaching car not slowed down so fast, then we could be discussing a fatality rather than a piece of low skilled, reckless and dangerous riding.”

Anyone with any information about the incident on Friday should call Sussex Police on 101.