The collision on the A14 in Cambridgeshire on 28 May involved four lorries and left the drivers of two vehicles with minor injuries.

‘One of the lorries was carrying seven-and-a-half tonnes of teddy bears,’ said Cambridgeshire police in a statement. ‘So far, at least 15 motorists have been stopped for filming or taking pictures of the crash site with mobile phones and are due to be prosecuted.’

Police are appealing for witnesses to contact them. Under UK law it is an offence to drive, or ride a motorcycle while using a hand-held phone or similar device. The same rules apply if you are stopped at traffic lights or queuing in traffic.

If caught, drivers face an automatic fixed-penalty notice, resulting in three penalty points on their licence and a £100 fine. If the case goes to court, however, they could be disqualified from driving and receive a maximum fine of £1,000.