This is the shocking moment an out-of-control Volkswagen Beetle narrowly misses a pedestrian by a split second.

Dramatic footage shows the man weaving his way through lanes of packed rush-hour traffic in Naucalpan, central Mexico, on November 26.

As he is about to step out, he hesitates briefly. Then, a classic VW Beetle comes careering down the road, half on the pavement.

The VW appears to be trying to dodge the traffic but ends up flying through the air after bumping into the kerb.

The CCTV clip shows the car sailing past the pedestrian, just a fraction of an inch from him, as he jumps on the spot to avoid moving forward.

The VW then slams into the rear of an Audi saloon, lurching sideways and coming to a halt with its front end completely smashed in.

Despite the close call, the pedestrian continues crossing the road and even has time to chat with another driver.