Survey finds nearly half of young drivers text at the wheel
Almost half of drivers aged 17 to 24 admit to illegally reading or writing a message while driving, according to a new survey by road safety charity IAM RoadSmart.
The charity says 43 percent of younger drivers have texted at the wheel in the past year.
A third say they have used a handheld phone to take a photo or record video while driving. The responses compare with 29 percent of drivers aged 35 to 44 and 16 percent of those aged 45 to 54.
IAM RoadSmart says the findings offer a concerning snapshot of younger drivers who struggle to detach themselves from their phones while on the road.
One in eight respondents in the younger age group say they have read or written messages on at least half of their journeys. For taking videos or photos, 13 percent say they have done so on at least half of journeys.
The survey also suggests that most younger drivers continue to hold their phones despite handsfree systems being widely available.
Four in ten say they have made video calls using handsfree technology, which IAM RoadSmart notes is legal but carries a risk of distraction.
Using a handheld mobile phone at the wheel is illegal, including when stopped in traffic.
Offences carry a £200 fine and up to six penalty points.
Drivers who passed their test within the past two years risk losing their licence under the Road Traffic (New Drivers) Act 1995.
The charity has published new analysis suggesting that the financial impact of being caught can reach £12,000 for young drivers once insurance, transport and retest costs are taken into account.
It says a typical 19 year old male receiving a CU80 endorsement for using a mobile phone may face more than £10,000 in additional insurance costs, alongside hundreds of pounds in travel and test fees.
Department for Transport data shows 154 people were killed or seriously injured in 2024 where using a mobile device was identified as a factor.
A further 920 casualties involved other distractions inside or outside the vehicle.
“The statistics show that a troubling number of young people are not only dicing with death, but they are also putting themselves at huge financial risk giving into the urge of using their smart phone. While the fear of missing out or FOMO appears to be a huge problem when behind the wheel, younger drivers should be far more worried about the implications of illegal phone use,” said IAM RoadSmart Director of Policy and Standards Nicholas Lyes.
“Even if the risk of a serious collision isn’t enough to deter this behaviour, losing your licence so early on will stunt your employment chances, disrupt education and will put you at a significant financial disadvantage.
“Enforcement remains one of the best tools to combat the epidemic of illegal phone use at the wheel, and would-be criminals should be aware that forces are using new cameras to catch people.
“It’s almost a decade since the penalties were increased for mobile-phone related driving offences, and we would support upping the fine level once again. Perhaps a good place to start might be by matching the fine to the price of a new smart phone.”
“Education is also important, young people need to realise that using a phone at the wheel can have devastating consequences.”
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