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by Danny Boyle

A petrolhead narrowly avoids a pile-up in the Dartford tunnel
while filming himself drive at more than 100mph.

The speed demon has posted a video of his souped-up car swerving
to avoid a line of traffic on YouTube.

Kent Police are investigating after the Messenger alerted it to
footage of the turbo-engined Astra being driven at more than double
the 50mph speed limit.

The adrenaline junky motorist even apologises to viewers for the
shaky footage because he was "trying to hold the camera and go up
the gears at the same time".

The footage has been widely condemned by road safety charities,
police and highway bosses as "totally irresponsible".

But it was still on YouTube as the Messenger went to press,
despite it having been brought to their attention.

More than 270 people had viewed the video, with comments
including "that’s wicked dude" and "I want a go".

Ellen Booth, of road safety charity Brake, said: "It is
extraordinarily selfish, irresponsible behaviour and it concerns us
that viewers are seeing this as something to look up to because it
is terrifying.

"A tunnel is one of the most dangerous places you can speed.
This could have been a disaster."

The video, posted by a YouTube user called jordanb7426, shows
the car accelerating to breakneck speeds changing lanes at the last
minute to undertake a line of traffic.

A Highways Agency spokesman branded it "totally irresponsible
behaviour that could have resulted in a very serious accident".

Inspector Martin Stevens, of Kent Police’s roads policing unit,
said: "When offences such as dangerous driving are filmed,
published on the internet and reported to us we will investigate
them.

"This driver did not have full control of his vehicle and it was
just chance that they did not cause a collision."

Anyone with information should contact Insp Stevens
on 01622 690 690 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555
111.