Reckless Porsche driver mounts kerb to pass bin lorry - as bosses warn lives are at risk

Reckless Porsche driver mounts kerb to pass bin lorry - as bosses warn lives are at risk EXCLUSIVE: Waste management company Biffa has warned impatient motorists are putting lives at risk as they reported 1,095 incidents in the last year, with 272 in the last three months This is the moment the driver of a £100,000 Porsche mounts the kerb to pass a bin lorry - as bosses say it is a matter of time before someone is killed. The footage is among hundreds of shocking incidents across the UK, in which impatient motorists are accused of putting lives at risk by mounting pavements. In one incident, a loader was taken hospital after he broke his leg. Waste management company Biffa has reported 1,095 incidents in the last year, with 272 in the last three months. And now they're warning that the offence is becoming widespread across the UK - not only putting their workers at risk, but also children and the elderly. The worst offenders are in Biffa's west region, which covers the areas from and including Cornwall, South Warwickshire, Anglesey and The Wirral, with 653 incidents in the last 12 months, followed by the south with 214 cases, the Midlands with 88 and Leicester with 42. The impatient and reckless drivers, which includes cars, vans and delivery couriers on motorcycles, have all been caught on the cameras on the Biffa trucks. The problem is now so widespread that Biffa is working with the police to stamp it out. And they've plastered some of their trucks with a giant slogan saying: "Watch Out - Driving on pavements is illegal and can kill." A National Police Chiefs' Council spokesperson said: "We all have a personal responsibility for keeping everyone safe on the roads and any behaviour which compromises this is unacceptable. "Driving without consideration for other road users, whether pedestrians, vehicles or cyclists is incredibly dangerous and impatience can lead to serious consequences." Driving on the pavement is a criminal offence and a conviction can lead to significant penalties. Offences of careless or inconsiderate driving - if driving on the pavement to bypass traffic or squeeze through a tight spot - can result in a charge of driving without due care and attention, carrying three to nine penalty points and a fine. If mounting the pavement puts pedestrians at risk, offenders can be charged with dangerous driving, resulting in an unlimited fine, a driving ban and potentially a prison sentence. Tony Jones, 52, a Biffa driver loader of 12 years from The Wirral, says he witnesses dangerous driving on a daily basis and said recently a loader he works with has been hit by a vehicle, suffering a badly broken leg. He said: "We get people in vehicles who will try and get round the wagon and will literally drive on the pavement just to get past us. It's impatient people who don't want to wait an extra minute or two for the wagon to move out of the way. "I've got to look out for my two loaders to make sure they are safe and that they are doing their job and also look out for members of the public, making sure they are not around the wagon. “We are in one of the most hazardous jobs in the UK, so there's a lot of things I've got to look out for but when a vehicle tries to drive past on the pavement, it is putting everyone at risk, especially children and the elderly." Recalling one incident where a food delivery motorcycle was driving dangerously, Tony said: "There's a road we do that's a one-way with parked cars either side of it - we were driving down the middle of the road and there was a queue of cars behind me, I then see a motorcycle driving across the pavement just feet from front doors and literally anything could have happened. The motorbike delivery guys are the worst. “We do have schools on our route and there's been quite a few incidents around schools with people driving on pavements, we have kids who, when they see us love to stop and wave at us, and whether they're on the street or outside the front of the house or with the mum and by the cars and obviously, you don't want any incidents happening, especially with the kids." Tony says Merseyside Police have been very supportive and have taken action against dangerous drivers. he added: "We have had letters from offenders who have written to apologise for their actions once the police have spoken to them so we are thankful for their support.” Tony said: "Please think twice and I know it can be frustrating to be stuck behind a wagon but don't try to overtake and drive on the pavement as it will cause an accident and we will catch you on the cameras that are on the truck and we will report it to the police." Gary Carvell, Health & Safety Director at Biffa, said: “Most people would be shocked to see just how often drivers mount pavements to get around bin lorries. What might seem like a quick shortcut can put our crews and members of the public at serious risk. "Our teams are out there everyday providing an essential service and they deserve to do their jobs safely. By highlighting these incidents, we want to raise awareness of an under reported road safety issue and encourage all drivers to think twice before making a dangerous manoeuvre that could have devastating consequences.”