County Durham and Darlington Police and Crime Commissioner Joy Allen has welcomed the Government's call for videos depicting dangerous driving to be removed from social media platforms.
A passionate road safety campaigner, Mrs Allen has previously called for the trend to be outlawed and is now renewing that appeal, urging tougher action to prevent dangerous driving content from being shared online.
She said: "No innocent person should lose their life because someone chose to drive dangerously in pursuit of a few likes, views or moments of online attention.
"I have campaigned tirelessly on behalf of the families of Karlene Warner and eight-month-old Zackary Blades, who were killed when Darryl Anderson got behind the wheel while nearly three times legal alcohol limit. Anderson slammed into the back of their Peugeot while taking a picture of himself driving at more than double the 70mph speed limit.
"I have also highlighted the tragic case of Abbie Devaney, who was killed on her 18th birthday by a dangerous driver who had previously shared multiple videos of himself speeding, carrying out reckless overtakes and narrowly avoiding head-on collisions.
"Having successfully campaigned for the possession of nitrous oxide to be outlawed, I am now urging members of the public to report evidence of its use in our communities to help keep Durham's roads safe. It is as stupid as it is illegal for drivers to film and share videos of themselves inhaling balloons filled with nitrous oxide while behind the wheel.
"If those who engage in this reckless behaviour refuse to see sense, then the incentive must be removed. Social media should not provide a platform for dangerous driving to be glorified, promoted or celebrated.
"Social media companies have a vital role to play. Dangerous driving is not entertainment and algorithms should not reward reckless behaviour with greater visibility and reach. Platforms should be required to remove content that promotes or glorifies dangerous, impaired or unlawful driving and thereby puts lives at risk.
"I also want dangerous drivers to understand that the videos, messages and posts they share online can become evidence. What is uploaded for attention today could be used to secure a conviction tomorrow, leading to the loss of liberty for many years.
"We owe it to all those who have lost their lives, and to the emergency service personnel who respond to these devastating incidents, to take decisive action. That means tackling this dangerous trend and removing opportunities for those involved to publish such content on social media platforms.
"I sincerely hope social media companies act swiftly and effectively to prevent such content from being published in the first place and to remove any videos that are already online. I am also pleased that, where appropriate, the Government intends to use powers available through the Online Safety Act to require platforms to takedown this content.
"This is quite literally a life-saving measure.
"I have often said that, in the wrong hands, a vehicle can become a lethal weapon. Never has that been more apparent."
Ends
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