A British media company and its director have been sentenced after a cameraman suffered serious head injuries while filming from a moving car. The incident took place in Paignton, Devon, United Kingdom, and resulted in a fine for the company and a suspended prison sentence for the director personally.
Incident
On 14 May 2021, Superhub Ltd, a media company based on Marine Parade in Paignton, was filming a video review of an electric motorbike. After capturing drone footage, the crew decided to get additional shots in the Broadsands car park from a moving car, with the motorbike following behind. An employee of the company, the cameraman, climbed into the car’s boot to film the footage. Director James Foster drove the car and did several laps with it. While the car was moving, the boot lining came loose, causing the cameraman to fall onto the tarmac.
The man suffered serious head and brain injuries requiring long-term care. He has been unable to work since. The footage was intended for a product review, so on the face of it, routine work. This shows that even seemingly simple filming requires a prior risk assessment.
Investigation findings
An investigation by the UK’s Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that Superhub Ltd had not carried out a risk assessment before filming. In addition, the car used was not suitable for the task: there was no safe way to secure the employee or his equipment while the vehicle was moving. Superhub Ltd pleaded guilty to breaching section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, the employer’s general duty to ensure, so far as reasonably practicable, the health and safety of employees. On 14 October, Exeter Crown Court fined the company £45,000, plus £3,000 in costs.
Director James Foster also pleaded guilty to breaching section 37(1) of the same act, which holds directors personally liable when an offence by the company was committed with their consent or connivance or is attributable to their neglect. He also pleaded guilty to causing injury through reckless and dangerous driving. He received a suspended prison sentence of 16 months, with a two-year probation period, and must pay £2,500 in costs.
Recommendations
HSE inspector Emma O’Hara stressed after the ruling: “No film, photo, or piece of content is ever worth risking someone’s life.” HSE points out that filming work must be thoroughly risk-assessed in advance, with suitable equipment and safety measures. In its guidance on filming, HSE specifically warns against filming from footwells, sunroofs, open boots or side doors while driving, unless adequate control measures are in place. Tracking shots filmed from a moving vehicle should only be made using a vehicle suitable for the purpose and with all crew members properly restrained.
Context
These recommendations align with a UK industry guideline for filming with vehicles (2019). It states that all crew members must be suitably restrained whenever a vehicle is in motion, and that the producer must assess the risks and review that assessment whenever circumstances change. According to the guideline, car-to-car filming may only take place from a suitable vehicle whose structural safety is not compromised by open doors or hatches; loose items must also be prevented from falling from the vehicle. Filming through an open boot, sunroof or side door while driving is only permitted, according to the document, with measures such as reduced speed, seatbelts or a harness and head protection. This is an industry document, not a legal requirement. The Superhub case shows what can go wrong when such basic precautions are missing, even in filming that looks simple on the surface.
Source: HSE press release: media company and director sentenced after serious injury during filming, 15 October 2026
Also researched: UK Health and Safety Document for Filming with Vehicles (industry guideline on vehicle safety in filming)
