Terrifying moment car crashes off road seconds after UK emergency alert test

A motorist was captured on dashcam crashing with no other vehicles in sight just moments after a nationwide test emergency alert was transmitted to mobile phones.

Sixty-four-year-old freelance photographer Phil Taylor was travelling along a 50mph dual carriageway in Bolton on Sunday (September 7) when the car ahead of him suddenly veered and smashed into the opposite lane.

The emergency alert test had chimed on his mobile phone at just after 3pm, seconds before the dramatic collision unfolded.

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The dashcam footage reveals the driver apparently swerving to the left, then over-correcting dramatically, spinning 180 degrees and finishing up in the opposite carriageway.

Prior to the emergency alert test being carried out, Edmund King, the president of the AA, had warned drivers to 'stay calm and focus on the road' when the alert came through, reports the Manchester Evening News.

Drivers were reminded that they could face a £200 fine and six penalty points if they were caught using a handheld device whilst driving.

After the crash, Phil pulled over to check on the driver and passenger, who had managed to exit the damaged vehicle.

He recalled: "They asked 'have you got video of that? I did a full 360 didn't I?'"

"I had a look at the car – the alloys were bashed in. I think the rear passenger side was damaged. The alert was two sets of traffic lights before, but it could have been the cause.

"Emergency alerts don't all come through at the same time, they seem to come in waves."

The complete emergency alert distributed on Sunday stated: "This is a test of Emergency Alerts, a UK government service that will warn you if there's a life-threatening emergency nearby.

"You do not need to take any action. In a real emergency, follow the instructions in the alert to keep yourself and others safe. Find simple and effective advice on how to prepare for emergencies at gov.uk/prepare.

"Visit gov.uk/alerts for more information or to view this message in Welsh. Ewch i gov.uk/alerts am ragor o wybodaeth neu i weld y neges hon yn y Gymraeg."

The alert was paired with a shrill, siren-like noise from mobile phones – even if they were switched to silent. Some devices also read out the warning message aloud.

Since the first Emergency Alerts test in April 2023, five real alerts have been issued.

The largest use of the system contacted approximately 4.5 million people throughout Scotland and Northern Ireland during Storm Éowyn in January 2025 after a red weather warning was issued.