Police have criticised drivers who turned around at the scene of an accident on the A34 and drove into oncoming traffic.

Officers from Hampshire Roads Policing made the comments after being provided with footage of cars turning around following a crash on the A34 on Friday, April 2. Four people were hospitalised in the incident, which saw the road closed for a number of hours.

Police said: “Following the closure of the A34, we have been provided footage of numerous vehicles turning around and driving the wrong way to avoid waiting. Not only is this dangerous but it put the public and attending Emergency Services at risk. These drivers will be contacted.”

Reports of a vehicle overturning near Sutton Scotney services on the A34 were first received after 12:30pm on April 2. Emergency services were called to the scene just after 1pm, with the vehicle lying across both lanes on the northbound carriageway.

The accident caused major delays as the road was closed from the junction with the M3 at Winnal Roundabout and the junction with the A303 at Bullington Cross. The southbound carriageway remained open.

Traffic was brought to a standstill as emergency services attended the scene, with fire crews from Winchester and Eastleigh at the scene. The road reopened around 2:50pm.

During this time, some cars turned around and drove in the other direction to take alternative routes.

Driving the wrong way on a road can be treated as careless driving or dangerous driving, depending on the severity of the offence.

The former often leads to a fixed penalty of up to £2,500, and up to nine points on the license, while dangerous driving involves a court appearance, disqualification from driving, an unlimited fine and up to two years in prison.