This is the terrifying moment a police sergeant swerves to avoid a head-on collision with a BMW being driven the wrong way along the M56 by a motorist high on cannabis trying to get to a McDonald's.
Hassan Waseem, 23, told police after his arrest that he couldn't even remember driving onto the motorway.
Drug tests later found high levels of cannabis in his system, police said.
Waseem, of Broadstone Road in Heaton Chapel, Stockport, is now starting a jail sentence.
Cheshire Police has released dash-cam footage recorded on Sergeant Anton Sullivan's car as he responded to urgent 999 calls about the incident.
He said he was forced to 'take evasive action'.
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The footage shows Sgt Sullivan pulling left off the motorway onto the hard shoulder as Waseem's white BMW approaches on-coming vehicles at speed with its full beams on.
Police chiefs said it was a miracle no one was killed or injured.
The officer said: "To have a car driving towards me head-on was terrifying.
"Not only did I fear for my own safety but also for the safety of my colleagues and the hundreds of other motorists who were using that stretch of road.
"At the time of the incident there was moderate traffic on the carriageway, including a number of HGVs.
"Thankfully, Waseem pulled onto the hard shoulder before anyone was killed or seriously injured.
"However, this does not excuse his behaviour and I have no doubt that the consequences of his actions would have been far worse had it not been for other motorists taking evasive action.”
Waseem pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, drug-driving, driving without insurance and possession of a class B drug.
At Chester Crown Court on Friday, he was jailed for 12 months.
The incident happened at around 4.30am on Thursday, January 10, on a stretch of the motorway in Cheshire.
Police said callers reported the BMW being driven erratically, changing speeds and drifting across lanes between junctions 11 and 12 on the westbound carriageway near Runcorn.
Superintendent Jo Marshall-Bell added: "This case highlights the dangers of driving while under the influence of illegal drugs.
"Upon his arrest Waseem had no recollection of the incident itself.
"He couldn’t even remember that he had driven on the M56, let alone the fact that he had driven the wrong way.
"It was only when he was shown footage of the incident that he realised the seriousness of his actions and the danger he posed to other motorists.
"Not only is he lucky to be alive, it is a wonder that no-one else was killed or seriously injured as a result of his reckless actions.”
On top of his jail sentence, Waseem was banned from driving for three-and-a-half years.
Once his ban has expired he will have to take an extended driving test to be able to regain his licence.
