Young drivers fuel surge in handheld mobile phone use behind the wheel
The number of young drivers illegally making and receiving phone calls while driving has reached its highest level in eight years, according to the RAC’s 2024 Report on Motoring. This marks a concerning milestone, 21 years after handheld phone use while driving was outlawed.
The report reveals that over half (55%) of drivers under 25 admitted to making and receiving calls without hands-free devices. This is more than double the rate of the general driving population (27%) and significantly higher than the 16% recorded among drivers aged 65 or older. The figures for young drivers have risen by six percentage points since 2023.
Worryingly, 43% of young motorists admitted to listening to voice notes while driving, with 40% recording them. By contrast, these behaviours are far less common among the wider population, at just 14% and 9%, respectively.
Loopholes Closed, But Compliance Falls Short
Despite legislative changes designed to close loopholes around handheld phone use in 2021, the report highlights a surge in other risky behaviours. Nearly one-in-10 drivers (8%) admitted to taking photos or recording videos while driving in 2024, compared to 5% in previous years. Among under-25s, 30% engaged in these activities, a sharp rise from 19% in 2023.
Video calling behind the wheel is also on the rise. Four-in-10 under-25s confessed to making or receiving video calls while driving, more than double the rate recorded two years ago.
Public frustration over phone use on the roads remains high. Almost a quarter (22%) of drivers listed handheld phone use as a top motoring concern. Many are calling for action, with over three-quarters (77%) supporting the use of AI cameras to detect offenders. Trials of these systems have already proven effective, with Devon and Cornwall Police catching nearly 300 drivers in three days earlier this year.
Although 91% of drivers agree that handheld phone use is unjustifiable, the number of fines issued rose by a third last year, reaching 36,842. This increase follows a legal expansion in 2022, allowing for broader enforcement of phone-related offences.
Fatal Consequences
The human cost of distracted driving remains stark. In 2023, 23 road deaths were linked to drivers using mobile phones, up from 18 in 2019. Overall, distraction and impairment contribute to over a third of all fatal collisions on UK roads.
As dangerous phone use behind the wheel climbs, particularly among younger drivers, pressure is mounting for stricter enforcement and technological solutions to address this persistent issue.
RAC road safety spokesman Rod Dennis said: “It’s extremely concerning that despite now having a ‘zero tolerance’ handheld phone law in place, an increasing number of young drivers appear to be using their phones to call, text, voice note or even video chat while operating a vehicle.
“We suspect a major reason for this is drivers not believing they are likely to be caught. But hopefully, growing use of AI cameras which allow police to detect drivers breaking the law will get the message across that offenders will be caught and punished with six penalty points and a £200 fine. For young drivers who passed their tests in the last two years, this means losing their licences.
“Anyone who uses a mobile phone at the wheel in any way is not just risking their own lives, but those of their passengers and all other road users. The only ‘screentime’ drivers should have in the car is looking through the windscreen as they focus on the road.”
Nicholas Lyes, Policy and Standards Director for IAM RoadSmart, said: “Using a handheld mobile phone behind the wheel is dangerous and unlawful, and could cost you or someone else their life. Even a momentary distraction can be disastrous, and it is deeply concerning to see that an increasing number of young people are using their phones while driving – particularly to make a video or to take a photo. Almost one in five drivers killed on our roads are aged 17-24, so action needs to be taken, not just by the police, but by drivers themselves who hold a great deal of responsibility behind the wheel.”
