Arbroath driver feared for life on nightmare motorway journey

Motorist angry at lack of police response despite four calls

An Angus pensioner who tailed a vehicle which was “bouncing off both kerbs” on a busy Scottish motorway is to report Police Scotland to the Independent Police Conduct Authority.

The Arbroath driver, who did not wish to be named, described how he was in fear for his life and those of other motorists during his 60-mile journey on the A9, M9 and M80 between Perth and Glasgow.

Despite four emergency calls to Police Scotland, no police vehicles appeared before the car, driven at speeds of up to 70mph, left the M80 at the Charing Cross slipway in Glasgow city centre.

The witness believed the person behind the wheel was either under the influence of drink or drugs, or was “seriously unwell”.

He said: “I drove behind the vehicle and gave the police updates on four occasions.

“I started tailing the car at the Broxden roundabout in Perth when I saw it being driven erratically.

“It hit the kerb on both sides of the road about eight or 10 times. I tailed it for about an hour and a half in heavy traffic and never saw a police car.”

During his phone calls to a police operator he gave the registration number of the car he was following, details of his own vehicle, their speed, and location details.

He continued: “There was no reason the police wouldn’t be able to find the car. I was raging by the time I made my fourth phone call. The driver could have killed someone.”

Police Scotland said: “Efforts were made to trace the car in question, and the information regarding it was passed to all police divisions which the vehicle was known to be travelling through.

“The registered keeper of the relevant car was subsequently traced and no further police action was required. We would like to thank the driver who called us for passing on their concerns.”

There was no reason the police wouldn’t be able to find the car