Gardaí urge the public not to lie down on roads as part of dangerous new social media trend

Gardaí have urged the public not to take part in a new social media trend which involves people covering themselves in a sheet and lying on the road in an attempt to stop traffic.

The activity, known as ‘ghosting’, recently led to a youth in the southern region of the country receiving a number of minor injuries. In a statement issued yesterday, Gardaí said that ’emergency services escorted the youth to hospital where she is being treated for injuries sustained to her back, torso and ankle. She was admitted to hospital for a number of days.’ The statement described the practice of ghosting as ‘extremely irresponsible and poses a serious danger to those taking part in the ‘ghosting’ and motorists.’

Gardaí are aware of a social media trend circulating online called ‘ghosting’, where persons to lie on a roadway and attempt to stop oncoming traffic. This activity is extremely irresponsible and poses a serious danger to those taking part and motorists: https://t.co/wtQ28wvmdU pic.twitter.com/5MTNxVhv3v

— Garda Info (@gardainfo) December 14, 2020

It was added that ‘An Garda Síochána are urging people not to engage in this social media trend. Gardaí are particularly appealing to parents to educate their children on the dangers of participating in such activity and to highlight the importance of being seen while using Irish roads.’

You can read yesterday’s Garda statement about ghosting in full here.

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