Illegal phone use behind the wheel surges among UK drivers

• Illegal mobile phone use by drivers for activities beyond voice calls has reached an eight-year high in the UK, matching 2018 peaks.
• A survey commissioned by the RAC found 15 per cent of motorists admitted to browsing, texting, or posting on social media while driving.
• More concerningly, 9 per cent of respondents reported watching, recording or livestreaming videos while driving, a figure that rises to 27 per cent among under-25s.
• Home Office data reveals 40,723 convictions in England and Wales for handheld mobile phone use while driving in 2024, the highest since 2016.
• Road safety experts express deep concern over these trends, highlighting that 21 people were killed in crashes in 2024 where mobile phone use was a contributing factor.

IN FULL

Number of UK motorists using phones illegally while driving reaches eight-year high