Seven dead, including two police officers, in UK wrong‑side collision

A serious traffic collision occurred on Tuesday evening on the A12 near Dagenham, involving three vehicles and resulting in two people being taken to hospital with serious injuries. The crash follows a series of similar incidents in Ireland, where police have identified a social media trend that encourages drivers to reverse direction on motorways. In the Irish cases, the trend, popularized on platforms such as TikTok and Instagram, led to several fatal and non‑fatal accidents before authorities issued a public warning.

Investigators in England are examining the circumstances of the Dagenham collision, noting that preliminary evidence suggests a driver may have been influenced by the same online challenge. Irish police, after a month of increased crashes, released a statement urging motorists to avoid any form of “reverse driving” and to report any suspicious behaviour. The trend, which gained traction in late 2023, has prompted both the UK and Irish transport departments to collaborate on a cross‑border safety campaign.

Both jurisdictions are reinforcing road safety messages through media outlets and social platforms. Officials stress that any deviation from standard driving directions remains illegal and dangerous, and they are urging the public to remain vigilant and report any attempts to spread the trend.