Illegal phone use while driving rises sharply among young drivers
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New research reveals drivers are increasingly using handheld phones for social media, livestreaming, filming videos, and even gaming while driving, with young motorists found to be the worst offenders.
Britain’s roads are facing a growing “mobile menace” as many drivers admit to using handheld phones for increasingly dangerous activities behind the wheel.
New RAC research shows the proportion of motorists admitting to illegal handheld phone use has climbed to its highest level in eight years, with young drivers far more likely to engage in risky behaviour.
The study found 15% of drivers now admit using a handheld phone to browse the internet, text or post on social media while driving. That’s more than double the low point recorded in 2021 during the Covid pandemic (7%) and the highest figure since 2018.
One in five motorists (20%) also confessed to checking messages or notifications while driving, the highest level recorded since 2016. Meanwhile, 12% admitted taking photos or recording videos at the wheel, up sharply from 8% last year.
The RAC research also found that the number of drivers watching or recording videos, or live streaming while driving, had nearly doubled in a year, rising from 5% in 2024 to 9% in 2026.
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Younger drivers are more likely to use their phones
Among drivers under 25, more than a quarter (25%) admitted watching, recording videos or livestreaming while driving, while 22% confessed to playing games on their phone behind the wheel. This is the highest proportion ever recorded by the RAC.
Younger motorists were also far more likely to make video calls while driving, with 42% admitting doing so, while nearly four in 10 said they had typed messages or social media posts while at the wheel.
The RAC finds this alarming
The RAC said the findings suggest many drivers are simply transferring their everyday phone habits into the driving seat, despite strict laws banning handheld use.
RAC senior policy officer Rod Dennis described the trend as “frightening”.
He said: “Our research shows there’s been a marked increase in the proportion of drivers – especially the young – admitting to using handheld mobile phones behind the wheel for all sorts of risky activities, including posting on social media and even livestreaming.
“The penalties if caught might be tougher now than they were in the past, but they clearly aren’t enough to stop a lot of drivers brazenly using their phones illegally.”
Although fewer motorists now admit making handheld voice calls while driving, the RAC warned this does not represent safer behaviour overall. Instead, traditional calls appear to have been replaced by more visually distracting activities such as filming videos, livestreaming and using apps.
Tougher penalties aren’t stopping drivers from breaking the law
The findings come despite tougher penalties introduced in 2017, which doubled the punishment for handheld phone use behind the wheel to a £200 fine and six penalty points.
Convictions for handheld mobile phone offences in England and Wales have climbed to their highest level since 2016, reaching more than 40,000 cases last year.
The RAC believes falling public concern may be contributing to the problem. Concern about drivers using phones illegally has fallen steadily over the past decade, dropping from 41% in 2016 to just 19% this year, as issues such as potholes and fuel prices dominate motorists’ worries.
Trend is ‘deeply concerning’
Chief Constable and National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for roads policing Jo Shiner said: “The rise in illegal handheld mobile phone use to a seven-year high is deeply concerning, particularly among younger drivers where usage is significantly above average. Whether checking messages, filming or using apps, these behaviours take attention away from the road at critical moments.
“This is not a minor lapse in judgement, it is dangerous, reckless behaviour that puts everyone at risk and must be challenged through education and enforcement.”
The RAC is now urging the government and police forces to expand the use of new camera technology capable of detecting drivers using handheld phones from above.
“Despite pole-mounted cameras now being used to look down into vehicles to catch drivers using handheld phones and not wearing seatbelts, our figures suggest there isn’t much concern about being caught,” Dennis explained.
“Effective enforcement is as vital as a deterrent, so we hope more police forces will start using the latest technology to remind drivers that this behaviour is illegal.”
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