Australian influencers slammed after filming social media videos while driving

An influx of Australian influencers have been slammed after filming social media videos in a dangerous way.

This gives a whole new meaning to driving while under the influence.

From Instagram to YouTube to TikTok, the favourite vehicle for vloggers has become a car backdrop.

While many influencers incorporate a stationery set – apparently there is no better lighting and sound than a parked car – a striking number are staged in moving vehicles, with the vlogger driving while creating content.

In fact, one of the most popular social-media videos right now, with almost one billion views, is that of Melbourne-based influencer Leah Halton as she’s driving the streets of her city.

Ms Halton is shown singing along to a song, manipulating the camera and with one arm outside of the seatbelt. It’s probably not going to be content shown in driving school.

There are also plenty of YouTube videos showing her driving around, eating and chatting, all with her P plate displayed in the back window.

Leah Halton, known by her TikTok handle @looooooooch (pronounced “looch”), is a lifestyle and fitness influencer from Melbourne, Australia.

Closer to home, one influencer posted a reel to Instagram vlogging to camera while driving her car.

A commenter posted below the video, “Mad anxiety. Park the car next time please! What you are saying however is spot on.”

Another follower of the account texted the Bulletin: “Why are influencers making content WHILE driving? Like what are you doing? Focus on the road!”

To the person’s credit, when contacted by the Bulletin, they took accountability:

“My phone was clipped into my GPS and I was sitting in traffic when the idea popped in my head, but I can see how this is dangerous and didn’t think at the time. It won’t be happening again and I will take down the content.”

Look, given how much time we all spend in our cars, it makes sense to multi-task, but safety has to come first,

So even though it seems every influencer is doing this, is it actually legal?

Well, that’s where it gets confusing.

According to drive.com.au: “It’s not illegal to film yourself while driving, as long as the camera or phone you’re using is properly mounted, doesn’t obstruct your view, can be used entirely hands-free, and doesn’t have a screen that’s visible to the driver.

“If you have to touch your phone at any point while driving or have the screen on ‘selfie’ mode, facing towards you – you’re in trouble.

“Every police force we spoke to said there is a legal distinction between a mounted camera or phone that doesn’t interfere with the driver’s view, can be used hands-free and won’t be distracting, versus a mobile phone that requires the driver to hit ‘record’ and ‘stop’ while driving and has a visible screen that could distract the driver.”

Further, the Queensland Government website states: “You can be fined $1209 and have four demerit points recorded against your traffic history for using a mobile phone illegally while driving. This includes when you’re stopped at traffic lights or stopped in traffic.

“Hands-free use of a mobile phone can attract fines and demerit points for open and P2 licence holders, if the driver isn’t in proper control of the vehicle or drives without due care and attention.”

Still taken from a video made by influencer Leah Halton

Those last four words are key. While it’s not for me to judge whether these influencers are exercising ‘due care and attention’, it certainly seems a risk to their own driving record to have these videos publicly posted.

And while it might be Australian drivers and Australian rules we’re most concerned with, the issue of driving while vlogging has become a global concern.

In fact, TikTok’s policy now does not allow any livestreaming while driving, whether as the driver or the passenger, with accounts which do so banned from further livestreams.

However, judging by the number of car vlogs on the site, it seems recording content in the car, even as the driver, is still allowed.

Perhaps it’s time to take a U-turn on this trend, because when it comes to vlogging behind the wheel, it seems the best policy is to come to a dead stop.

Originally published as Australian influencers slammed after filming social media videos while driving