These are always the trickiest of situations. Red flags and lights are rarely waved for fun.
In this instance, Loïc Duval’s practice crash in the Porsche Curves at Le Mans today was particularly nasty.
Thankfully news from the medical centre has been positive so far, with the 2013 victor adjudged to have suffered nothing worse than several scrapes across the skin.
And one can breathe a long sigh of relief, especially when a picture of the smashed Audi flashed up on screen.
Alas, with the live broadcast streamed along on the Eurosport Player, there emerged the usual sad traits that stain modern media.
Unprepared to wait for news of Duval’s condition and desperate to be the ‘first’, the sad and socially clueless began playing the game of spreading screengrabs of the wrecked Audi.
Some declared that this is merely sharing information in the modern age, but that is simply bollocks I am afraid is spread by people seeking to excuse poor behaviour.
With no news of Duval’s condition at the time, respect and decency for the Frenchman were jettisoned for a pathetic desire to be digitally popular.
The wreck was only on screen for a very brief few seconds – for a reason. The moment the enormity of the crash was understood, the director immediately switched away and did not show the wreck again.
Those who remember Imola 1994 will know there is a very good reason as to why directors are told to not show wrecks until news of the driver is known or unless he is seen getting out of the car.
It is about having some respect for the driver who may or may not be injured – or worse. As we remember from last year’s tragedy at Le Mans, this crash could have had dire consequences and showing the wreck does nothing, but feed the insatiable desire for car crash perversion.
And yes, it does come down to such difficult concepts as bog standard decency and respect.
