Britons warned 'you're going to lose your licence' after driving near car crash - 'Expect points and a fine'

WATCH: Road safety campaigner Sarah Hope on dangerous driving

GB NEWS
Felix Reeves

By Felix Reeves


Published: 27/01/2025

- 14:56

Some social media commenters said it was 'disrespectful' to take pictures of a road accident

Drivers are being warned of taking pictures after a road traffic accident after a police force issued a number of fines after a crash in Hampshire.

Hampshire Roads Policing Unit attended an accident on the A34 over the weekend which saw a silver transit van between Tothill Services and Litchfield.


The accident forced the closure of the north and south carriageways as traffic officers needed to repair serious damage to the central barrier.

The motorist involved in the crash was "completely uninjured" although the Roads Policing Unit did issue a further warning to motorists.

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The A34 accident in Hampshire

Nine drivers are set to be slapped with fines for taking pictures and videos of the accident

HAMPSHIRE AND ISLE OF WIGHT ROADS POLICING

In total, nine drivers were slapped with fines and six penalty points on their licence after they were caught taking photos of the crash site.

Posting on social media, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Roads Policing said of the nine drivers slapped with fines, four were behind the wheel of HGVs.

The Facebook post continued: "If this was you, please expect six points and a fine.

"To the young Portsmouth fan en route to the West Bromwich match, not only did Pompey lose, but you're going to lose your licence under the new driver rules."

The police force highlighted how using a phone for any purpose while driving is "distracting, dangerous and an offence".

It also posted a picture of the scene of the accident taken by an officer on foot, as well as thanking motorists for their "incredible patience".

The post was met with mixed responses from social media, with some praising the police for their work, while others claimed the fines were unnecessary.

One commenter said: "Why do people need to record or take photos of an accident anyway! This is one of many things that grinds me... Just disrespectful."

Another added: "Good work - mobile phone use behind the wheel is a menace and is one of the Fatal 4. [It] is a good use of resources."

A third commenter pointed to mobile phone driving rules in Belgium which could see drivers stripped of their licence for 15 days, as well as a fine of €174 or £146.

These rules were first introduced in February 2024 in a bid to crack down on motorists using handheld devices at the wheel, and the dramatic impact it can have on road safety.

A public safety campaign was launched entitled "Focus on the road, not on your phone" and aimed to educate drivers on the immediate and serious consequences they face if they break the rules.

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:

Driving with a phone

Hampshire Police called on drivers to avoid using their phones at the wheel or they could face serious consequences

GETTY

Research by the Flemish Foundation for Traffic (VSV) reported that more than eight in 10 drivers have used their phone when at the wheel, with distracted driving being one of the three biggest killers in traffic.

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