A total of 48 motorists who were seen videoing a fatal collision on the M6 near Lymm on handheld mobile phones, while passing the incident, are set to be prosecuted.
Three lorries were involved in a collision on the southbound carriageway between junction 20 at the Lymm Interchange and junction 19, Knutsford at around 12.40 pm on Thursday, July 8, this year.
One motorist died at the scene and three other people received injuries.
North West Motorway Police say they have now collated evidence to prosecute 48 motorists who were seen driving past the incident, filming from handheld mobile phones.
A police spokesperson posted on social media: “On the 8th July our Cheshire Road & Crime Unit for the North West Motorway Police Group were dealing with a Fatal Collision on the M6 Southbound.
“To the 48 People seen/witnessed videoing the incident from their handheld mobile phones on the Northbound Carriageway whilst passing the incident, your details have now been provided to us and a letter of prosecution is in the post to you.
“It is an offence to use a handheld mobile phone whilst driving.
“Furthermore it is insensitive to video the scene of such a devastating incident whereby family, colleagues, friends may well not be aware of the incident.”
On the 8th July our @CheshireRCU for the North West Motorway Police Group were dealing with a Fatal Collision on the M6 Southbound.
To the 48 People seen/witnessed videoing the incident from their hand held mobile phones on the Northbound Carriageway whilst passing the incident pic.twitter.com/N42pL1zuTb
— North West Motorway Police (@NWmwaypolice) July 16, 2021
2 Comments
As I read recently the current state of the law does not prohibit you from taking a photograph or video using a mobile device while driving. There is apparently legislation prepared to change this and make it an offence but for now the police could end up with egg on their faces. It’s a terrible thing to do but it would appear, for now at least, not illegal.
If the photos were taken using a hand held or manipulated camera, as opposed to a “fixed” dash-cam, those taking the photos were breaking the law. That said, however they were taken why anyone would wish to post them on social media needs some explaining.