Police warn drivers of dangerous '100mph Snapchat challenge'

Police warn drivers of ‘100mph Snapchat challenge’ that encourages boy racers to accelerate to top speeds and upload video of their speedometers

• North Wales Police have warned against the ‘100mph Snapchat Challenge’
• The challenge encourages users to videotape themselves driving at top speeds
• The warning comes nearly 20 months after the challenge left Lewis Morgan dead
• His friend Meirion Roberts crashed into a pole while speeding and drinking beer

Police have warned against a dangerous Snapchat challenge calling on drivers to videotape themselves zooming at 100mph.

The ‘100mph Snapchat challenge’ encourages drivers to accelerate to top speeds while recording a video of their speedometer on their phone as proof.

They must then upload the clip to the social media site as part of the craze that North Wales Police say is growing in popularity.

Officers in Wrexham claim they have increased speed check patrols after concerns about the dangerous trend were recently raised.

The 100mph challenge has been around for several years now, but still remains as hazardous as ever. 

Wales resident Lewis Morgan, 20, was killed in December 2020 after his friend, driver Meirion Roberts, crashed into a telegraph pole. 

Roberts, 26, had been drinking bottles of beer while behind the wheel and showing off his speedometer on the social media platform at the time of the crash.

Police have warned against a dangerous Snapchat challenge calling on drivers to videotape themselves zooming at 100mph. The warning comes after Wales resident Lewis Morgan, 20, (not pictured) was killed in December 2020 after his friend, driver Meirion Roberts (left), crashed into a telegraph pole

‘The 100mph challenge that we have been made aware of is a real concern. Nobody needs to be reminded that speeding can have devastating consequences,’ Sergeant Leigh Evans, of North Wales Police, said.

‘This is a warning to those who are taking part in this challenge: don’t be complacent, there is no excuse for breaking the laws of the road.’

The force has stepped up speed check patrols after concerns were raised over speeding on the Llan-y-Pwll road.

Sgt Evans said: ‘We are aware of the concerns raised regarding speeding and nuisance vehicles in the area. We are continuing to monitor the area closely with regular patrols.

‘Speeding is an issue that concerns many residents and one that we take extremely seriously. Those who choose to ignore the speed limits can expect to be prosecuted for their actions.

‘The public will say ‘police need to prioritise real issues, or ‘shouldn’t they focus on real crimes?’ – I want to stress that people are killed and seriously injured as a result of unnecessary speed, so this is quite rightly, a priority for us.

He added: ‘Driving at high speeds endangers the lives of those driving and those of other road users and can put extra demands on our NHS.

‘We have a robust strategy around enforcing the ‘Fatal 5’ offences which includes speeding. Intentionally racing on the highway is likely to attract a prosecution for dangerous driving and subsequent disqualification or imprisonment.

‘We’ll continue to work closely with our local policing colleagues and our partners and I would encourage the public to continue to report any issues or concerns to so that we can plan our traffic operations accordingly and make the best use of our available officers.’

Meirion Roberts (pictured after the crash) denied a charge of death by dangerous driving, but he was convicted in February 2022 following a unanimous guilty verdict. He was jailed for seven and a half years

Lewis Morgan (left) could also be seen drinking in the video 

The warning comes nearly 20 months after Roberts killed Mr Morgan in the drink driving smash.

Roberts was drinking at a work party in December 2020 before he drunkenly took the wheel with Mr Morgan as his passenger.

The pair were recorded in a Snapchat video drinking bottles of beer and showing off the speedometer of the white Vauxhall Corsa they were travelling in, which recorded a speed of over 100mph.

Roberts lost control of the vehicle in December 2020 before he smashed into a telegraph pole killing Mr Morgan in Blaenau, Carmarthenshire.  

The 20-year-old suffered severe head trauma in the crash and died at the scene.

Roberts gave an alcohol reading of 54mg per 100ml of blood – the legal limit being 80 – more than five hours after the smash. An expert in breath alcohol analysis, during a trial held at Swansea Crown Court, calculated that Roberts’ alcohol level would have been over the legal limit when the collision occurred. 

Roberts denied a charge of death by dangerous driving, but he was convicted in February 2022 following a unanimous guilty verdict.

He was jailed for seven and a half years by Judge Christopher Vosper QC.

Anyone with information about the ongoing Snapchat challenge is encouraged to contact their local police force.

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