Drivers warned they are being secretly filmed on these motorways and busy roads

Reckless drivers who behave dangerously or break the speed limit on busy roads have been warned they may be being secretly filmed. It's not just speed cameras that motorists have to be aware of these days.

There are other cameras potentially all around them that they can't see - and could land them in trouble with police. These are cameras used by other motorists on the roads, either dashcams or mobile phones held by passengers.

Increasingly, they are being used to catch dangerous drivers breaking road rules in what is proving to be an extra weapon for police. Officers and speed cameras can only cover so much ground but members of the public can now act as eyes for police out on the roads. Drivers have been caught on motorways like the M6 and M5 as well as other busy A roads across the region.

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Senior officers are encouraging more people to send in footage of dangerous driving, with a promise every submission will be reviewed. This can be done via the national dashcam safety portal at nextbase.co.uk.

So while dangerous drivers may think they have got away with it if there are no police or speed cameras around, modern technology means they can never be sure. Submissions of footage to West Midlands Police has soared from just 207 in 2017 to over 11,500 already this year.

The force said over four in five reports sent in by the public have resulted in a "positive outcome", including warning letters, education courses, fixed penalties and prosecution. Extra staff are set to be brought in to help manage and make use of all the footage.

The Police and Crime Commissioner, Simon Foster, said: “These dangerous drivers need to be held to account and face the consequences of their actions. The public can aid us in doing that, so I’d urge anyone who has recorded footage to share it with the police, help bring perpetrators to justice, and ultimately reduce the number of people tragically and avoidably killed and seriously injured on our roads.”

Tanya Johnson, who heads up the Operation Snap team, added: “Road safety is an absolute priority for West Midlands Police and the work of our specialised team is already making a real difference. It doesn’t take long a member of the public to file a report and each one makes a real difference to road safety. Every dangerous driver who has been filmed and had to pay the price will, and should, be thinking again about the way they drive.”