'No trend is worth risking lives': Plea to Leeds motorists as deadly TikTok driving trend shocks country

Motorists in Leeds are being urged not to follow a deadly TikTok driving trend.

The country has been rocked in recent days after five young people died when their vehicle was driven the wrong way along the A66 dual carriageway near Middlesbrough and hit a police car travelling the correct direction, killing the two officers as well.

A TikTok account believed to belong to one of the five passengers, was found to have previously shared videos appearing to show dangerous driving, which have since been removed.

Now, Neil Hudson, of West Yorkshire’s Vision Zero Partnership, has urged young people across the region not to share or participate in producing dangerous driving content online, warning that it can have devastating consequences.

“There is nothing entertaining or harmless about dangerous driving, which can have devastating consequences for drivers, passengers, other road users and their families,” he warned.

"No trend, social media post or online challenge is worth risking lives. We would urge anyone creating, sharing, or engaging with content that promotes dangerous driving to think carefully about the impact it can have.”

Through Vision Zero, partners across West Yorkshire are working towards eliminating all traffic fatalities and serious injuries on roads. That means challenging behaviours that put people at risk and promoting a culture of safe, responsible driving.

The deadly crash in Middlesbrough came a week after one in Ireland which claimed the lives of five teenagers, who died when the car they were travelling in was driven the wrong way down a motorway and was involved in a head-on collision with another vehicle.

After that crash, the Irish Government and opposition politicians criticised social media companies for failing to restrict or quickly remove content depicting dangerous driving.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said people who share footage glorifying dangerous driving are “doing something that’s truly reprehensible” and a Downing Street spokeswoman said the “glorification of dangerous driving for clips and entertainment is utterly disgraceful”.

Chief Inspector James Farrar, Head of West Yorkshire Police’s Roads Policing Unit, has pledged to do “all we can” to prosecute those involved in such actions.

“The absolutely tragic impact dangerous and illegal driving can have on the roads of West Yorkshire is sadly still all too apparent, and we remain determined to target those whose driving puts others at risk,” Chief Inspector James Farrar told the Yorkshire Evening Post.

“We do encourage residents to submit footage of dangerous and illegal driving through our Operation Snap web portal and also work to identity persons involved in footage of dangerous driving posted on social media.

“Drivers must be under no illusions that if they speed, drive carelessly, do not use a seatbelt, use a mobile while driving, or drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs they are putting their own life and the lives of others at risk, and that we will do all we can to prosecute those involved.”

Footage of dangerous and illegal driving can be submitted to police via their Operation Snap web portal at West Yorkshire Safer Roads - Op Snap.

Recent prosecutions in Leeds include Connor Charlton, a semi-pro footballer, who was jailed for four years for offending including driving at speeds of over 190mph, footage of which was posted on online platforms.

TikTok has not made a statement about the criticisms but said its policies strictly prohibit content that could cause significant physical harm, including dangerous driving, and that it actively removes any videos and accounts that break its rules.