Warwickshire Police to prosecute 80 rubbernecks who allegedly filmed the M40 crash

[dutchman]

Drivers were trapped in traffic jams on the M40 for seven hours



Warwickshire Police have said that they will prosecute more than 80 “insensitive” drivers for allegedly filming the scene of Friday’s horrific lorry crash which left drivers stranded for seven hours on the M40.

The incident took place at around 10.50am and involved three lorries.

One HGV left the northbound carriageway and smashed through the central reservation, overturning on the southbound carriageway and spilling 30 tonnes of animal feed across the carriageway.

The driver, a man in his 30s, was treated by paramedics at the scene before being taken to hospital.

It is understood he suffered minor injuries.

But officers from Warwickshire Police say a string of drivers would be facing prosecution for their behaviour during the incident.

OPU Warwickshire wrote: “Over 80 summons being prepared this morning for drivers who were using / filming the collision site on the M40 yesterday on their phones”

Inspector Lucy Sewell told the Daily Mirror she asked an officer to start taking down licence plate details after she noticed drivers slowing down a virtual standstill to take pictures.

She said: “It was disrespectful and dangerous. Instead of a flow of traffic flowing through at 10 or 20mph, people were slowing right down to take a picture while at the wheel.

“Officers were trying to encourage drivers to keep going, they noticed that people were trying to take videos and photos.

“So they decided to take their initiative and started taking down their details.

“It think the issue is three-fold; it reduces the flow of traffic, it’s insensitive and then there’s the safety aspect.”

“We would like to remind people that it is an offence to use a handheld device such as a phone while driving, it distracts you and greatly reduces your reaction time.

“In this case, it made the already severe delays even worse for drivers behind them.

“If we identify people using a handheld device while driving we will take action.”

The drivers will be sent letters informing them that they may be summonsed to court or face a fine of £100 and penalty points.