Image credit – Law Office of Michael L. Neff
For seasoned Snapchatters, you guys are probably aware that the app has a filter that basically lets you snap a photo and overlays it with the speed that you’re moving at. Presumably it is meant to be used when you’re in the passenger’s seat of a fast car, or maybe during a rollercoaster, and so on.
However it seems that a young woman by the name of Christal McGee decided that it was a good idea to try and use the filter while she was behind the wheel herself, ultimately leading to a crash that caused the victim, a Wentworth Maynard, traumatic brain injuries. According to reports, McGee was speeding in her father’s Mercedes and was traveling at a speed of 107mph when she hit Maynard’s car.
The legal limit for that particular stretch was 55mph, meaning that McGee was almost twice over the speed limit. The victim’s family has since filed a lawsuit against McGee and also Snapchat over the accident which has pretty much put Maynard out of work and now requires a walker and wheelchair to get around.
According to the family’s attorney Michael Lawson Neff, “The issue really is about distracted teenage drivers. It’s about Snapchat encouraging teenagers to drive at fast speed for social status.” Snapchat has since responded by saying, “No Snap is more important than someone’s safety. We actively discourage our community from using the speed filter while driving, including by displaying a “Do NOT Snap and Drive” warning message in the app itself.”
A petition has also been launched to ask Snapchat to remove the filter.
Filed in . Read more about Apps, Legal, Snapchat and Social Hit.