UK backs action on social media dangerous driving posts
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The gist
UK Defence Minister Luke Pollard urged social media firms to remove dangerous driving videos. The move follows a fatal crash killing seven people in Middlesbrough.
Background
A viral trend on social media shows people driving the wrong way down roads, which has been linked to several deadly crashes. The most recent incident occurred in Middlesbrough, where a police chase crash killed five people and two officers. Minister Luke Pollard has called on platforms like TikTok to remove such content, citing the Online Safety Act as a tool to compel them.
How it unfolded
- Aug 22, 2026A fatal crash on the M9 in Ireland, where a BMW driving the wrong way hit a car, injuring three sisters and a child, sparked public outrage and calls for action.
- Aug 23, 2026Reports highlight the trend of TikTok clips encouraging dangerous driving for online kudos, referencing the Middlesbrough crash that killed seven people.
- Aug 24, 2026Defence Minister Luke Pollard urges social media companies to remove dangerous driving videos, threatening to use Online Safety Act powers if they don't.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- Minister Luke Pollard says social media companies could take down content today and adjust algorithms to stop celebrating dangerous driving.
- Platform
- TikTok states its policies prohibit content that could cause significant physical harm, including dangerous driving, and it is actively removing violating videos and accounts.
- Regulator
- Ofcom spokesperson says under the Online Safety Act, platforms must minimise children's exposure to violent material and content promoting dangerous challenges.
- Public
- Some politicians and the public demand tougher penalties, such as classifying wrong-way driving as attempted murder, and express frustration over lack of police training.
Still unverified
The exact number of deaths in the Middlesbrough crash is reported as seven (five people and two officers) but some sources say 'seven people' without specifying officers; details of the crash are not fully confirmed.