UK police and government officials are raising alarms about dangerous driving stunts being shared on social media platforms like TikTok, following a series of fatal crashes. These videos, some of which have been online for months, depict drivers engaging in high-speed maneuvers, taunting police, and joyriding in stolen vehicles, sometimes while under the influence of substances like nitrous oxide.
One video uncovered by the Daily Mail shows a motorist in a BMW X3 speeding through rain-soaked streets with a police car in pursuit, audibly taunting officers. Another clip features a driver dangerously overtaking vehicles in a residential area before veering onto a pedestrian crossing and driving over grass. A third video shows a driver exceeding 80 mph on a country road, with the accompanying caption referencing a stolen vehicle.
These clips have surfaced as authorities grapple with the aftermath of two recent tragedies. In one incident on Saturday, two police officers, PC Matthew Blades, 37, and PC Tom Clough, 38, were killed when their vehicle was struck by a car traveling the wrong way on a dual carriageway in Teesside. The driver of that car, a Volkswagen Passat, was being pursued by police when the chase was terminated moments before the collision. Five other individuals, identified as Cole Robert Worthy, 17; Theo Rae, 17; Makai Saddington, 18; Michael Robert Cahill, 23; and Jacob Matusiak, 23, also died at the scene.
Investigators are examining potential links between the deceased individuals and "serious and organised criminal activity." Cleveland Police reported receiving multiple calls about dangerous driving involving two vehicles on the morning of the collision, one of which was seen ramming properties. Both vehicles were reportedly using cloned license plates but were detected by automated number plate recognition technology.
TikTok has since banned accounts believed to belong to individuals involved in the Teesside crash, including one associated with Michael Cahill and another possibly linked to Jacob Matusiak, who reportedly used the rap name '2Uzi.' Saddington's previously active account, which allegedly featured dangerous driving videos, has also been removed.
In a separate incident on August 16, five teenagers died when the car they were in crashed head-on with another vehicle while traveling the wrong way on the M9 in County Kildare, Ireland. The occupants of the other vehicle, a family, sustained serious injuries.
The UK government has urged social media companies to remove content that glorifies criminal or dangerous behavior. A Downing Street spokesperson stated that the "glorification of dangerous driving for clips and entertainment is utterly disgraceful." The government has engaged with social media platforms regarding this content since the recent tragedies.
Ofcom, the UK's communications regulator, has noted that under the Online Safety Act, platforms are required to minimize children's exposure to violent material and content promoting dangerous challenges. The regulator launched an investigation into TikTok's compliance with child safety duties in July and indicated a willingness to take action if companies are found to be falling short.
TikTok has stated it is actively monitoring content related to the Teesside incident and is removing videos and accounts that violate its policies. The platform's rules prohibit content that glorifies violence, promotes crimes that could cause harm, or depicts activities likely to be imitated and cause significant physical harm, such as risky driving.