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THIS is the shocking moment a motorhome driver did a u-turn on a busy motorway before driving the wrong way up a slip road to avoid traffic jams.

The whopping van was one of a number of vehicles spotted cutting across the hatched markings to skip queues at M3 Junction 4a near Fleet, Hampshire this weekend.

This is the moment a frustrated motorhome driver did a u-turn around in heavy traffic on the M3
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This is the moment a frustrated motorhome driver did a u-turn around in heavy traffic on the M3Credit: Solent
The motorist crossed the hatched markings to avoid the jams
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The motorist crossed the hatched markings to avoid the jamsCredit: Solent

The driver of a dark blue SUV was even seen reversing back down the motorway before turning around to drive into oncoming traffic up the slip road.

The chaotic scenes on Saturday morning were the result of a full closure between two junctions due to emergency roadworks.

Tempers flared as drivers were marshalled into a single lane to exit for a signed diversion.

Josh Larkins-Hayers, who captured the traffic carnage on his phone, was stuck in the jam for around 90 minutes.

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The 23-year-old maintenance manager from Basingstoke, Hants, said he was shocked by the "dangerous" decisions of other drivers.

"The traffic hold-ups were due to construction roadworks," he said.

"It is pretty silly to close a whole section of the motorway during August and the school holidays.

"However, some people should have more common sense and stick to the Highway Code."

The closure started at 9pm on Friday, August 5, and will continue until 6am tomorrow.

A signed diversion is in place via the A30 London Road. National Highways has said drivers should either avoid this area or look to use alternative routes if possible.

Hampshire police today described the motorists' actions as "unacceptable" and appealed for dash-cam footage so they can be investigated.

A spokesman said: "We received a report from a member of the public in relation to highway disruption on the slip road of the M3 Junction 4A.

'DANGEROUS'

"It is reported that a number of vehicles were driving the wrong way up a slip road to avoid road closures that were in place at the time.

"This is unacceptable behaviour and could have had serious implications for road users attempting to join the motorway via the slip road.

"As a police force, Hampshire Constabulary has a dedicated team within the Summary Justice Unit that review reports of poor driving made by the public which include collisions and near misses.

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"Members of the public can upload dash-cam footage of alleged offences to police. These are processed using our HantsSNAP scheme directly into the fixed penalty system.

"We would encourage anyone who has mobile phone footage or dash-cam footage to report this to police via the HantsSNAP platform."

Several drivers were spotted motoring the wrong way up the slip road to avoid the traffic
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Several drivers were spotted motoring the wrong way up the slip road to avoid the trafficCredit: Solent
One driver was even spotted travelling head-on towards other vehicles
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One driver was even spotted travelling head-on towards other vehiclesCredit: Solent
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