An Ilford man who fell asleep at the wheel and crashed into the back of a police car on the M11 motorway has been sentenced for dangerous driving, narrowly avoiding causing serious harm to officers on duty.
Habib ur Rehman, 38, of Ilford Hill, was driving a Honda CR-V on the southbound carriageway near Wendens Ambo, Essex, at approximately 11.20pm on 18 February, when he fell asleep and collided with a stationary police vehicle.
Two police officers were outside the car at the time, attending another roadside incident. The impact narrowly missed them, but one officer sustained minor injuries after leaping out of the way. Rehman also suffered minor injuries and was taken to hospital for treatment.
Court Outcome
On Thursday, 20 March, Rehman appeared in court where he pleaded guilty to dangerous driving. He was handed an 18-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, and was also:
- Disqualified from driving for one year
- Ordered to complete an extended re-test
- Instructed to pay £85 in court costs
- Fined a £154 victim surcharge
Police Response
The police vehicle was seriously damaged in the collision. PC Edd Davidson Smith, one of the officers present at the scene, described the incident as a stark reminder of the dangers of tired driving:
“This case highlights the dangers of driving tired and falling asleep at the wheel.
If anyone feels tired while driving, they should pull over somewhere safely and have a rest.
Rehman seriously endangered me and my colleagues with his dangerous driving that night, and it was more luck than judgement that none of us were more seriously injured.”
Public Safety Reminder
Authorities continue to warn drivers of the potentially fatal consequences of fatigue behind the wheel. According to road safety experts, drowsy driving is a leading cause of serious accidents, and motorists are urged to take regular breaks and avoid late-night driving when tired.
