The winner of the 2025 in-car distraction awards is…

The votes are in. British drivers have officially named the biggest distractions they’ve had to endure in 2025.

A new AA Accident Assist survey of more than 11,000 drivers has revealed the top five in-car distractions. And in a surprise twist, it’s not tech or even unruly children who top the list… it’s the person sitting right next to you who simply won’t stop talking.

So, here are the top five biggest distractions motorists experience while driving.

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Top 5 biggest in-car distractions

1. The ultimate yapper (25%)

Taking 1st place is the passenger who gives a running commentary on everything. Be it the journey, the weather, the entire plot of a Netflix show – this becomes an utter nuisance just as you’re trying to merge onto a roundabout.

2. The backseat brawler (24%)

Kids who won’t sit still or stop squabbling in the back come in a close second. One parent in the survey admitted: “I’ve once had to stop the car and tell the kids we weren’t going anywhere until they behaved.”

3. Footell foraging (22%)

From rummaging for snacks in the glovebox to fishing for a fallen phone, this causes drivers to take their eyes off the road as they reach for dropped items.

4. It sounds like it’s coming from the inside (21%)

Thanks to modern cars beeping at everything, such as collision avoidance warning, some drivers fixate on these alerts, causing them to look away in confusion.

5. Part-time driver, part-time DJ (17%)

Younger drivers (25-34) in particular say their biggest distraction is fiddling with the infotainment system to scroll through playlists.

The consequences? Wrong turns, kerb clips, and near misses

More than two fifths (43%) said they took their eyes off the road for a few seconds. That’s long enough to miss exits, drift out of lanes or clip the kerb. A small but worrying 3% narrowly avoided a crash, while 1% actually collided with something.

But why does this matter now? With the Christmas getaway looming, cars will be full of chatty relatives, excited kids and well-intentioned co-pilots who like to “help” by adjusting the settings. Just know that it’s okay to set boundaries – and ask for a bit of peace and quiet when the road gets tricky.

Tim Rankin, managing director of AA Accident Assist, said: “Driving can be tricky if someone is trying to get your attention. Passengers often mean well, but they may not be aware of the distraction they’re causing. Sometimes the safest thing a driver can say is: ‘Give me a moment, I need to focus.’”

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