The UK government has directed social media companies to remove content that depicts dangerous driving. This instruction follows a fatal collision on the A66 near Middlesbrough over the weekend, which resulted in seven deaths, including two police officers.
Defence minister Luke Pollard stated that social media platforms hosting content celebrating dangerous driving behaviour have been contacted. He added that if companies do not comply, the government is prepared to use powers under the Online Safety Act to mandate the removal of such videos.
Reports suggest that at least one of the young men who died in the A66 crash had been involved in filming dangerous driving for TikTok videos, though police have not confirmed this. Cleveland police and crime commissioner Matt Storey acknowledged these reports but urged against speculation, emphasising the importance of drivers focusing on the road.
The issue of social media regulation regarding dangerous driving content also gained prominence after a fatal crash in County Kildare, Ireland, last weekend, where five teenagers died. The Garda commissioner, Justin Kelly, noted that some vehicles were reportedly driven on the wrong side of motorways for social media likes.