Police force in Derbyshire installs cameras to catch ‘rubberneckers’

Police in Derbyshire have announced they will set up cameras near accidents to catch ‘rubberneckers’ who film traffic collisions while behind the wheel. 

The force confirmed they intend to prosecute those who record accidents after attending three crashes on the M1 last Friday and spotting dozens of ‘disrespectful’ drivers filming the scene. 

Photographs shared by the Derbyshire Roads Policing Unit show cameras installed at the roadside near collisions to catch motorists in the act.

This footage will then be reviewed and anyone seen filming the scene while driving will be issued a Notice of Intended Prosecution by post.

Derbyshire Police detailed the new initiative on August 8, after crews were ‘on the motorway for most of the day’ due to high volumes of traffic and three collisions.  

In a statement on Facebook, the force said: ‘We noted that, as usual, the rubberneckers just couldn’t help themselves. 

‘It is understandable to have a level of curiosity about why you’ve been held up in traffic, but your own driving shouldn’t suffer as a result.

‘For a while now the next step for a particular hardcore group of these elastic necked drivers is to fiddle about on their phone, switch it to camera mode and record the collision scene.  

‘All whilst controlling between one and 40 tonnes of metal surrounded by dozens of others doing the same. It’s disrespectful and illegal. 

‘It’s a simple case of driving without due care and attention. The driver should be focusing on what’s ahead not what’s on the other carriageway and their phone.’ 

The decision was met with praise by social media users, one of whom said: ‘I’ve never understood why people film the end of a loved one’s life.’

Others asked for the practice to ‘become a routine.’

Chris Pawson said: ‘Great idea. Get on with concentrating on your own driving, have some respect for the people involved in accidents and don’t film them for your own satisfaction.’