Driver caught on phone gives finger to motorist before horror realisation of who it is

A driver was left red-faced and in deep water after being caught on the phone at the wheel and sticking his middle finger up at the driver for scolding him.

He very quickly discovered that the person he cursed, who he thought was just another driver, was actually a couple of undercover police.

The motorist responded in anger after realising he was being recorded by the people in the opposite vehicle and was left mortified when he discovered it was officers on patrol, police said.

READ MORE: One-year-old boy dies and woman seriously injured after 'lorry crashes into pram' in Down

The footage was captured by on-duty officers who were out conducting a mobile phone enforcement operation in an unmarked vehicle.

The offender can be seen with his phone to his ear as the police drove up alongside him.

Once the driver realised he was being filmed, he allegedly put the phone down and stuck his middle finger up.

Driver caught on phone gives finger to motorist before horror realisation of who it was (Avon and Somerset Constabulary / SWNS)

Police say his response showed the 'total disregard' some people have for the law.

Avon and Somerset Police Roads Policing teams said on Twitter: "Officers conducting mobile phone enforcement in an unmarked vehicle observed this driver on his phone.

"His reaction, before noticing that the person recording him was a Police Officer, shows the total disregard some people have for the law & road safety!"

In Ireland, if a driver is caught on the phone by police on patrol they would be hit with a fine and penalty points.

Although you can legally talk on your phone using a hands-free system, the Road Safety Authority advises very strongly against this.

The penalty for using your phone while driving is a fixed charge of €120, and 3 penalty points.

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