Number of young drivers using mobiles behind the wheel hits new high
Wed, 18 Dec 2024
More than half of young drivers admit to illegally using their mobile phone behind the wheel, despite the risk of losing their licence if caught.
That's according to new research from the RAC. The 55% of young drivers aged under 25 who use mobile phones without a hands-free device is more than double the 27% average of the overall driving population.
Just 16% of those aged 65 or over use a mobile behind the wheel.
The RAC says the findings come 21 years after the government first made it an offence to use a handheld mobile phone behind the wheel.
It has also been two years since a loophole was closed, allowing drivers to escape punishment if they could demonstrate they weren’t using a phone for ‘interactive communication’.
This means the 43% of young drivers who had listened to a voice note without hands-free, and the 40% who have recorded a voice message, also now risk being caught.
The RAC says it is 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 driver not believing they are likely to be caught," says RAC road safety spokesperson Rod Dennis.
However, the growing use of AI cameras that can detect drivers breaking the law means the risk of being caught is growing – with punishments of six penalty points and a £200 fine.
It’s even worse for young drivers who have passed their tests in the last two years, as they would be at risk of losing their licences.
Road safety charity IAM Roadsmart points out that almost 1 in 5 drivers killed on our roads is aged between 17 and 24.
"Action needs to be taken, not just by the police, but by drivers themselves who hold a great deal of responsibility behind the wheel," says IAM RoadSmart’s Nicholas Lyes.
Recent Home Office figures show the number of fines for using a handheld phone behind the wheel increased by a third last year, from just under 27,000 to almost 37,000.
Is it legal to use a phone in a holder while driving?
