UK legalities for vehicle to vehicle filming

[Ed Moore]

Hi all,

 

I'm trying and failing to get "The Government" to tell me what the laws regarding vehicle to vehicle filming are, so wondering if anyone here knows any useful tips.

 

Now I'm assuming that on private land and roads you can do "whatever you want" obviously subject to your own production heath & safety requirements and sense of self-preservation, but what's the deal for filming on public roads? Is it legal even to pop the boot of a hatchback and film out the back on a properly-secured tripod? I see Top Gear doing this all the time, but no idea whether they have had to obtain some sort of license to do this legally or whether they get away with it "because it's Top Gear"

 

More to the point, what about hard mounted steadicams? Are there circumstances under which it's acceptable to drive a vehicle with a hard mounted steadicam with operator (rigged securely and strapped with 5 point harnesses etc) on public roads with the potential of other traffic following behind the picture car?

 

Many thanks for your sagely advice,

[David Hughes]

Hi Ed.

Interesting question I can't help you with any answers myself but Im sure if you give the friendly people at Bickers a call they should be able to answer any questions you have.

http://www.bickers.co.uk/

or maybe try the gtc forum someone there is sure to have some ideas.

http://www.gtc.org.uk/

Dave.

[Jess Haas SOC]

Don't know about the UK but know that in most places if you hire a police escort many many things become "legal"

 

~Jess