Heroic Coach Driver's Quick Reactions Stop A Bad Day From Getting Worse

This bit of dashcam drama shows that the difference between life and death on Britain’s motorways is often just millimetres - and a driver who is paying attention.

Coach driver Mike Helm was recording his journey up the M40 when he caught sight of an incident ahead. We’re not sure quite what happened, but it appears that an overtaking Golf driver missed the slower traffic ahead of him and panic-braked. This locked up the rear wheels and pitched the VW into a slide.

With all four tyres smoking, the Golf came to rest half in lane two and half in lane three, dead ahead of Helm’s 12-tonne rig.

With no room to his left due to trucks, Helm had no other choice but to stamp hard on the brakes - and was already braking before the Golf stopped moving.

The audio indicates he wasn’t entirely sure he’d stop in time, and the video catches the Golf driver bracing for the impact, but fortunately it never came; the coach stopped just short of the stricken vehicle - to a deserved round of applause from his passengers.

There’s a special mention too for the unknown Peugeot 208 driver who also exhibits exemplary awareness in avoiding the Golf.

Fortunately this incident resulted in no injuries or damage. That’s one very lucky Golf driver who should be checking his brake balance and rear tyres, along with his observational skills and underwear.