This is the moment a tuk-tuk driver sped in reverse through the streets of an Indian town, hitting one motor scooter and narrowly avoiding several other collisions.

The terrifying video was captured during the annual "reverse race" of tuk-tuks in the city of Sangli in the state of Maharashtra on Wednesday.

The scooter rider and passenger escaped serious injury, according to local reports.

There have been calls for the popular event to be banned over safety fears.

This is the heartstopping moment a tuk tuk drives backwards in high speed on a narrow road averting a series of narrow collisions.

It takes off in the race hitting a bike whose riders fall down but manage to get back on their feet.

The tuk tuk driver continues to drive in the reverse gaining speed. He gets very close to hitting spectators, who have lined up on both sides of the road, but misses them fortunately.

The scary drive was part of the popular ‘reverse race’ for tuk tuks held in Sangli in south-western India on February 6.

Several tuk tuks took part in the race, each driving as dangerously and missing spectators narrowly.

There have been demands to ban the annual race but officials are yet to heed.