A priest who also serves as a Conservative county councillor in Monmouthshire, Father Malcolm Lane, made headlines after he accidentally joined a council meeting online while driving to officiate at a funeral. The incident occurred during a council committee meeting where Father Malcolm Lane was asked to introduce himself. The chairman, Labour councillor Armand Watts, noticed that Father Lane was driving and asked him to pull over for safety reasons.
Father Lane explained that his initial intention was only to listen to the meeting while he was driving to the church. However, he inadvertently left the camera on his phone activated, which led to his appearance on the meeting’s online stream. He had joined the pre-meeting from home via video link and planned to listen to the public session during his journey to the funeral, which was scheduled at Langston Vale Crematorium.
In a statement, Father Malcolm Lane clarified that he had not taken his eyes off the road at any point and that his phone usage was hands-free as it was connected to the car’s audio system. He stated that he pulled over as soon as he realised the screen was still on and that his vision of the road was not compromised during the online meeting.
The incident sparked discussions about the importance of road safety and the risks of distractions while driving. Despite the unintentional nature of Father Lane’s actions, it serves as a reminder of the potential dangers of using electronic devices behind the wheel. The councillor affirmed that he had learned from the incident and would be more cautious in the future regarding technology usage while driving.
The event emphasises the need for awareness and vigilance on the road, especially in today’s digital age where distractions are plentiful. It serves as a cautionary tale for all drivers to prioritise safety above all else, even when faced with the temptation of staying connected virtually.