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Puddle splash victim speaks out after driver soaks pedestrians in Gravesend

A puddle-soaked pedestrian has spoken out after a reckless driver crashed through roadside water while appearing to fiddle with his mobile phone.

Richard Grant, 46, was taking his two-year-old son Joshua home from nursery when he leaped out the way as a large car sent water flying towards him.

When reviewing footage he took of the incident later that day, Mr Grant found that the driver appeared to be using his phone as he committed the drive-by drenching.

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The man was caught on camera using his phone as he sent waves of water towards pedestrians
The man was caught on camera using his phone as he sent waves of water towards pedestrians

After being the victim of roadside soakings on previous occasions, Mr Grant said he wants to raise awareness of puddle splashing.

Police are aware of the incident and are making inquiries.

Mr Grant, a writer from Windmill Hill, Gravesend, said: "I was just walking along picking up my son from nursery with my wife when I saw the puddle and a car went through it splashing some people."

After he picked up his son, Richard decided to leave a camera recording as he walked down Overcliffe in Gravesend yesterday evening in case it happened again.

Lo and behold, he caught a black BMW X3 splash through the water forcing him to jump out the way while pushing a pram holding his two-year-old son.

"I just want people to realise that when you drive near to a puddle, you are going to get people wet," he added.

Splashing is a crime and falls under section three of the Road Traffic Act 1988, and can often be punished through a fixed penalty notice.

A Freedom of Information request made by the Guardian earlier this year revealed that only 63 incidents of splashing were reported between 2009 and 2014, according to six police forces in England and Wales.

A two-year-old boy narrowly avoided getting drenched as the wreckless driver crashed through the puddle
A two-year-old boy narrowly avoided getting drenched as the wreckless driver crashed through the puddle

A police spokesman said: "Kent Police would like to remind motorists that using a hand held phone is dangerous and can sometimes have severe consequences, including death and serious injury.

"It is also an offence for which offenders can receive three penalty points and a £100 fine.

"The case could also go to court, where a maximum fine of £1,000 can be enforced as well as disqualification from driving."

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