Driver caught crawling along busy motorway at 20mph trying to use her Sat-Nav

A driver has been banned after dash cam footage showed a woman crawling along the motorway at 20mph - whilst phoning her friend to help reset her Sat-Nav.

A Thap Quan, 48, was filmed by her dashcam plodding along in the middle lane of the M1 while other cars swerved to overtake her.

After travelling at just 20mph, Highways officers spotted Quan and followed her as she travelled at the dangerously low speed in her white Mini One on August 15 last year.

As the highway officers approached her car, they told Quan to drive at a sensible speed but moments later she pulled into the middle lane without indicating.

A Thap Quan was recorded driving slowly in lane two of the northbound carriage on August 15 last year (Northamptonshire Police / SWNS)

She ignored the highway officers advice and continued to drive at slow speeds on the northbound carriageway before crossing over a roundabout near junction 18.

The 48-year old then cut across from lane two onto the slip road – driving over the hatch markings – and drove round the roundabout, re-joining the M1 on the southbound carriageway.

As the dash cam footage captured Quan driving at slow speeds, other cars and motorists were having to react quickly to avoid accidents as she continued driving at the slow pace on the motorway.

The video showed other motorists having to take evasive action to avoid a collision with Quan’s Mini One as it travelled at just 20mph (Northamptonshire Police / SWNS)

Quan, of Darlington, County Durham, was issued with a one-year driving ban at Northampton Magistrates’ Court last month.

PC Mo Allsopp-Clarke, of Northamptonshire Police ’s Safer Roads Team, said: “When the highway’s officer spoke to Quan, she admitted that she was trying to reset her Sat-Nav while driving.

“He advised her to drive the short distance to Watford Gap Services but when Quan drove off, she again drove extremely slowly, before coming to a stop whilst using her phone to ask someone how to operate the Sat-Nav.

A motorist has been disqualified for a year after dash-cam footage which captured her driving dangerously on the M1 motorway (Northamptonshire Police / SWNS)

“The highways officer continued to follow Quan, who drove off at 35mph and moved back into lane two.

“She remained at this speed before driving past the services towards junction 18.

“She then cut across from lane two onto the slip road – driving over the hatch markings – and drove round the roundabout, re-joining the M1 on the southbound carriageway.

Highway’s traffic officer put on his vehicle’s flashing amber lights to attract the attention of Quan (Northamptonshire Police / SWNS)

“The dash cam footage captured Quan driving at slow speeds which was a danger not only to her but to other motorists and could have very easily ended in tragic consequences.”

Quan admitted one count of dangerous driving and was disqualified from driving for 12 months.

She was also ordered to pay a £450 fine, £340 court costs and £34 victim surcharge.