UK Government Urges Social Media Companies to Remove Dangerous Driving Videos

Government Calls for Content Removal

The UK government has pressed social media companies to take down posts that celebrate dangerous driving. Prime Minister Andy Burnham stated that sharing such videos is "truly reprehensible." This call follows a recent incident where two police officers and five other individuals died in a car crash near Middlesbrough.

Fatal Crash and Social Media Link

The fatal crash involved a car traveling the wrong way on a dual carriageway. A TikTok account, believed to belong to one of the passengers, 18-year-old Makai Saddington, had previously shared videos appearing to depict dangerous driving. These videos have since been removed from the platform.

Platform Responsibility and Algorithms

Defence Minister Luke Pollard highlighted that social media companies can easily remove such content and modify their algorithms to prevent its distribution. He noted that platforms are aware of the content on their sites and how algorithms work, acknowledging the financial incentive for users to post controversial content to gain views.

Legal Obligations and Enforcement

A Downing Street spokeswoman reiterated that the glorification of dangerous driving is "utterly disgraceful." The culture secretary has made it clear that social media platforms must remove such footage in accordance with their legal obligations. Ofcom has the government's full support to act against platforms that fail in these duties, though video content featuring illegal activity is not necessarily illegal itself under the Online Safety Act.

TikTok's Response

TikTok stated that its policies prohibit content that could cause significant physical harm, including dangerous driving. The company confirmed it is actively removing videos and accounts that violate its rules, including the account linked to Saddington. Between January and March 2026, TikTok proactively removed 99.8% of content violating these policies.