Police warning over dangerous Snapchat motorway bridge ‘challenge’

Dangerous: The teens were found 'hanging off' the wrong side of the rails on motorway bridges
PA Wire/PA Images
Chloe Chaplain20 February 2018

Police have issued a stark warning over a dangerous Snapchat "challenge" encouraging teenagers to put their lives at risk by posing for photos on motorway bridges.

Manchester officers were called to reports of youths “hanging off” the side of pedestrian bridges and posing for photos of themselves leaning over speeding cars below.

Upon speaking to one of the youngsters, police were told the stunt was part of a new “Snapchat challenge”.

Inspector Jim Jones issued a stark warning to those considering taking part in the stunt, saying “motorways are not a playground”, after officers caught several teenagers trying out the reckless stunts.

He warned of the “irresponsible” social media trend and called for youngsters to “nip this in the bud” before someone is seriously injured.

“Officers tonight have attended several incidents of people hanging off motorway bridges,” he tweeted.

“Those spoken to claim it’s a Snapchat challenge to post pictures leaning over bridges. How irresponsible can you get? Please help nip this in the bud and RT.”

A Greater Manchester Police spokesman elaborated further and said officers had received reports of three separate teens hanging off bridges between 5pm and 7.20pm on Monday.

They were reported on the wrong side of the barriers on bridges at three different locations around Greater Manchester.

Craze: the teens told police that they were posing for Snapchat pictures
Carl Court/Getty

"Officers attended these incidents but were only able to trace one teenager, who claimed he was taking a photo for social media,” chief inspector Tariq Butt explained.

“The potential fatal and horrific consequences of these actions were explained."

He added: “It should go without saying that motorways are not a playground, and safety should always be put ahead of likes, shares and stories. Fooling around on or near any type of road is dangerous, irresponsible and puts lives at risk.

“None of my officers want to be knocking on the door of your family to tell them their loved one will not becoming home because of a prank gone wrong.

“Furthermore, this type of behaviour can be distracting to other road users – could you live with yourself if something was to happen to them, or because of you they had to live with killing someone?

“Thankfully nobody was hurt in any of last night’s incidents but this story could easily have had a very different ending.”

The Standard has contacted Snapchat for comment.

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