How far can you go to stop someone whose driving could seriously injure another person? Photo credit: Screenshot from @Cabromotor/Facebook
Many drivers will say that one of their biggest concerns when driving is either a breakdown or an accident caused by an unfit driver. Recent footage has emerged of a terrifying incident filmed in broad daylight on Murcia’s A-30 motorway, reminding us once again why you should never drink alcohol or take drugs before driving.
For the motorists caught up in the incident, the situation became increasingly worry, with every erratic and unpredictable manoeuvre raising the possibility that someone could be seriously hurt.
Terrifying scenes on the A-30 motorway
The car, which appears to be an elder grey Volkswagen polo, is filmed weaving between lanes, cutting dangerously close to other vehicles and repeatedly veering off the road before returning to the carriageway. Its unpredictable movements leave other motorists with little idea of where it will go next.
As the vehicles round a bend, the driver appears to lean heavily to one side, prompting concern that something may be wrong. The footage does not establish whether the driver was under the influence of alcohol or drugs, but their apparent condition was clear they should not of been behind the wheel. The driver of the car recording the footage sounds the horn to warn other motorists not to overtake as they approach the Polo. With the car continuing to swerve, attempting to pass could put another driver directly in its path.
Driver hits another car and carries on
Shortly before reaching an urban area, the Polo strikes the side of another vehicle and rather than stopping, the driver carries on into the town. By this point, what began as a series of dangerous manoeuvres has resulted in a collision and barely avoided a bigger accident.
The car’s unpredictable driving has put other road users at risk, and the driver shows no apparent intention of stopping. Once in the town the concern becomes greater as he is now in an area where there are pedestrians. fortunately the driver of the car recording the footage manages to pull up alongside the car at a traffic light, open the car door, remove the keys and call the police.
Can you take a driver’s keys in Spain?
The incident raises a difficult question: how far can you go to stop someone whose driving could seriously injure another person? Spain’s Criminal Procedure Law allows private individuals to detain someone caught committing certain offences in specific circumstances. Article 490 sets out when this is permitted, but it does not give members of the public unlimited authority to confront drivers or use force.
Any intervention must be justified and proportionate to the danger. Trying to stop a moving vehicle is particularly risky, and confronting an unpredictable driver could put you and other people in greater danger. Authorities recommend that if you encounter a driver behaving this way, keep your distance and contact the emergency services when it is safe to do so. Giving the operator the vehicle’s registration number, location and direction of travel can help police respond without putting more people at risk.
The human cost of drink and drugged driving
In 2025, 446 of the 894 drivers killed in road accidents in Spain who underwent toxicology tests had consumed alcohol, drugs or medication that can affect driving. That represents 49.9 per cent of those tested, according to Spain’s National Institute of Toxicology and Forensic Sciences. Alcohol was detected in 290 of the deceased drivers, while 230 tested positive for drugs; some had consumed more than one substance.
Behind those figures are families who have lost husbands, wives, parents and children in crashes that may have been avoided. Choosing not to drive after drinking or taking drugs is a simple decision, but it can be the difference between a family sitting down to dinner together and spending the rest of their lives without someone they love.