A MAN has risked his life and the lives of hundreds of motorists by driving on the Pacific Motorway while reading a novel on Saturday.

Merrimac local Garo Ashikian was the passenger in a vehicle when he spotted the man enjoying a book while travelling at about 100km/h in the centre lane of the M1 at Yatala about 10am.

What is the worst thing you have seen a driver do on the M1? Let us know in the comments section below.

“I had to look twice myself because he was just casually driving along in the middle lane and was doing quite well, he wasn’t swerving or anything,” Mr Ashikian said.

“He had the book open and rested on his steering wheel and was just casually reading and driving,” he said.

The image angered road safety campaigner Russell White, who said the image was shocking but not surprising.

“With all kinds of distractions, whether it is something like this or a mobile phone, by the time you realise you are in trouble it’s too late,” Mr White said.

Earlier this year a P-plate driver was filmed using her mobile phone for an extended period while driving on the Pacific Highway at Ormeau, shown in the video above.

“I’ve seen and heard of all sorts of things with people eating cereal in the car while driving or grooming themselves on the way to work," Mr White said.





“People think driving is something you can do while multi-tasking and if nothing happened last time they assume they will be fine, but a lot of people don’t realise driving is the most dangerous thing people do every day.”

Acting chief superintendent Des Lacy said police would come down hard on anybody caught driving while ­distracted.

“That is an offence ... and it’s absolutely ridiculous,” he said.

“It’s the most dangerous thing at 100km per hour and is just a recipe for disaster.

“We would encourage a passenger who sees something like that to take down the rego, take a photo if they can and report it to police.”

Distracted drivers have frequently made headlines recently, with photos and videos emerging of everything from a couch being transported on the back of a car at Coomera to a man in the UK caught driving at 100kph while steering with his knees instead of his hands, and even a ute with a tray converted into a pool filmed swerving down suburban streets with "swimmers" in the back.

If you see dangerous drivers on the roads call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.