Drunk Driver, 69, Weaves Across UK Motorway With Dog in Back Seat

Police in Britain arrested a 69-year-old driver, Brian Houghham, on the busy M5 motorway after he was found driving under the influence of a high level of alcohol. He had been veering between lanes, and his dog was in the back seat of the car the whole time. The case shows how much police rely on members of the public reporting dangerous driving.

How the arrest unfolded

Video filmed from a car behind shows the driver's Toyota RAV4 SUV swerving from one side of the road across to the other lane. A witness contacted police straight away to report the erratic driving.

Officers tracked the vehicle and found it parked in a nearby motorway service area. When they approached the driver, a strong smell of alcohol was noticeable. A roadside breath test showed more than four times the permitted limit, equivalent to roughly 4 per mille (about 0.4%) of alcohol in the blood.

In the footage, an officer can be heard saying: "You just blew 142, sir. You have failed the test." At that moment the dog stood up in the back seat and watched everything with curiosity over the front seat headrest.

Penalty and the dog's fate

The dog was handed over to relatives, while the driver was taken to a police station. In court, the 69-year-old was given a 23-month driving ban and a fine of £2,885 (about €3,400).

A police spokesperson stressed the importance of the public's response: "This case clearly shows how important it is for residents to report dangerous driving. The information allowed us to quickly find the car and prevent a possible tragedy."