‘Wrong-side’ driving trend: 12 deaths in Britain, Ireland linked to social media buzz

Twelve individuals have died in a series of crashes across Britain and Ireland, all involving vehicles driven on the wrong side of major roads. Authorities attribute the dangerous driving to social media influence, as the incidents have been linked to a trend where dangerous driving is recorded and shared online.

In northeastern England, a car traveling on the wrong side of the A66 collided with a marked police vehicle, resulting in the deaths of seven people, including two serving police officers named Matthew Blades and Tom Clough. All occupants of both vehicles died at the scene. The crash occurred around 3:39 am near South Bank, east of Middlesbrough.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct will review the incident, as is standard in cases involving police. Authorities in Ireland are also investigating the recent crash where five teenagers were killed when their car was driven the wrong way on the M9 motorway west of Dublin, colliding head-on with another vehicle. Four people in the second car, including a child, sustained serious injuries.

This incident is part of a series of recent events involving vehicles being driven on the wrong side of motorways, prompting authorities to address the concerning trend.

Ireland's Prime Minister Micheal Martin condemned the reckless behavior, emphasizing that it must stop. Irish police chief Justin Kelly highlighted a similar crash on Dublin's M50 motorway a week earlier, warning that the behavior is especially alarming when done for social media attention. Irish authorities have called on social media platforms, such as TikTok, to remove content that glorifies dangerous and illegal behavior on the roads.