A HORRIFIED passenger took a picture of a coach driver reading at the wheel while travelling on a busy motorway.

National Express has suspended the driver while it investigates the incident.

The Poole woman took photos on three occasions as the man read a logbook while driving.

The incident happened on board the number 35 4.10pm National Express service from Poole to London’s Victoria coach station on October 1.

The woman said the driver looked at the book on the A338 near Bournemouth, the M3 near Winchester, and on the busy streets of Knightsbridge in central London.

She said: “I couldn’t believe when I saw him do it the first time. He opened the book up and put it across his steering wheel, then he kept looking up and down at it as he drove along. Last lasted for a few minutes, maybe five.

“He did the same thing again on the M3 then again in Knightsbridge. At one point he was steering with just his arm while he held on to the book with his hand.

“I felt very unsafe during those moments because it was rush-hour and the road ahead of you can change very suddenly so you have to have full concentration.

“He is a coach driver and has got people’s lives in his hands.

A National Express spokesman said: “The driver has been suspended while we carry out a full investigation into this incident.

“Our priority is always the safety of our passengers and we would encourage anyone who sees an incident to report it to us immediately.”