Car crash voyeurs endanger all

POLICE are amazed by the increasing number of people who slow down to take photos and even videos of car crashes.

They say it is only a matter of time before the 'senseless' practice causes a fatal crash.

In Ipswich, the problem is worst on the Ipswich Motorway, where peak-hour crashes are commonplace.

On Tuesday morning there was a crash on the Brisbane-bound side but Ipswich traffic was stopped by people slowing to look.

Ipswich Traffic Branch Senior Sergeant Troy Hamilton said people travelling in the opposite direction of the crash were the problem.

"We've had instances where there have been crashed on the motorway and people go past the other way taking photos of it," Snr Sgt Hamilton said.

"They seem to gain some personal satisfaction by gawking at and photographing someone who is in a crisis situation.  Those involved in this sort of activity need to wake up to themselves.

"It's ridiculous, it's an unsafe practice and in some cases leads to further traffic congestion and other crashes around them because they're not wathcing what they're doing."

He said while people continued to disregard road rules and safety, there would be 'an increasing number of injury crashes and fatal crashes, crashes that are completely avoidable'.

"Not everybody does it but you only need a couple to affect everybody else," he said.

"It's the isolated few slowing down to take photos or roll the video camera that creates a very unsafe environment for a whole host of motorists who should not be subjected to such a volatile situation.

"That can be hundreds of other motorists and in the case of the motorway it could be thousands."