UK minister tells social media firms to remove dangerous driving content after fatal A66 crash
A defence minister has said the government has told social media platforms to take down content glorifying dangerous driving, following the deaths of two police officers in a crash on the A66 in Teesside.
The government has told social media companies to remove content that glorifies dangerous driving, a defence minister has confirmed, in the wake of a fatal crash on the A66 in Teesside that killed two police officers.
The minister said police “need time” to investigate the incident, but that “in the meantime” platforms have been asked to take down material promoting reckless driving. The request follows the deaths of PCs Tom Clough, 38, and Matthew Blades, 37, whose police vehicle was struck by a Volkswagen Passat travelling on the wrong side of the A66 on Saturday night.
The crash has drawn attention to a social media trend in which individuals film themselves driving dangerously. The government has now asked platforms to remove content featuring the trend, according to reports. A man who died in a separate car crash in Middlesbrough had previously filmed himself joyriding, highlighting the wider issue of dangerous driving content being shared online.
The minister’s comments came during a session in the House of Commons, where the first speaker was Lee Anderson, the Reform UK MP for Ashfield. Anderson used his time to argue that young people in his constituency and across the country have “absolutely no chance” of securing council or social housing. He said a Reform UK government would “put British people first” in a housing system he described as unfair.
Reform UK later held a press conference, fronted by deputy leader Richard Tice and party chairman Lee Anderson, to announce a pledge to prioritise British-born workers under 35 when allocating social housing. The party said it would make the announcement as part of its housing policy platform.
The A66 crash and the subsequent call to social media firms come amid broader concerns about the role of online platforms in amplifying dangerous behaviour. The government’s request to remove such content is part of an ongoing effort to address the influence of social media on public safety, particularly among younger users who may be encouraged by viral videos to engage in reckless driving.
The investigation into the A66 crash continues, with police examining the circumstances surrounding the incident. The deaths of the two officers have prompted an outpouring of tributes from colleagues and the local community, as well as renewed calls for action to tackle dangerous driving and the online content that promotes it.
