Nearly half of young drivers illegally use phones to text at the wheel

Almost half (43%) of drivers aged 17-24 admit to illegally writing or reading a message at the wheel while driving, while a third (34%) confess to using a handheld mobile phone to record footage or take a photo while driving.

This compares to one third (29%) of drivers aged 35 – 44, and just 16 percent of drivers aged 45 to 54.

The survey, conducted by the UK’s leading road safety charity IAM RoadSmart, reveals a concerning snapshot of young drivers over the last 12 months as they struggle to detach themselves from the distractive nature of a smart phone.

Asked if and how frequently they have used a handheld mobile phone over the previous 12 months, one in eight (16%) said they have illegally read or written messages while driving on at least half of journeys, which increases to 43% when including those admitting to doing it ‘once or twice’.

For taking videos and photos, 13 percent say they have carried this out on at least half of journeys.

Despite most cars and phones having handsfree technology, the research shows that half of younger drivers continue to hold their phones while driving.

And four in ten (41%) younger drivers say they have made video calls using handsfree technology which, while technically legal, carries a huge risk of distraction and eyes being taken off the road.

Using a handheld mobile phone behind the wheel is illegal, even when stopped at traffic lights or in a queue.

Penalties include a £200 fine, up to six penalty points, and potentially losing your license if you passed your test within the last two years under the provisions of the Road Traffic (New Drivers) Act 1995.

According to new analysis by IAM RoadSmart, a £200 fine could be the least of concerns for young drivers who are not only dicing with death but also risking crippling legal, insurance, commuting and retest costs totalling up to £12,000.

COSTS

A typical 19-year-old male that receives a CU80 endorsement for using a mobile phone whilst driving may find themselves with a whopping £10,675 in additional insurance costs, almost £700 in alternative transport costs, and more than £800 for refresher lessons, new test costs and fines.

To put this into context, the total amount is the equivalent of one year of university tuition, a decent second-hand car or several all-inclusive holidays in Europe.

Using a handheld mobile phone while driving for interactive purposes has been illegal since December 2003.

In 2017, the penalties increased from a £100 fine and three licence points to £200 and six points.

In March 2022, the law was updated making it illegal to hold a phone for any reason while driving, not just for interactive communication**.

Many police forces consider it to be part of the ‘fatal four’, causing significant distraction at the wheel.

Department for Transport data shows that in 2024, there were 154 people killed or seriously injured (KSIs) where using a mobile device was identified as a factor, while there were 920 KSIs attributed to distractions either inside or outside of the vehicle***

IAM RoadSmart Director of Policy and Standards Nicholas Lyes said:

“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.

“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.”

IAM RoadSmart is taking part in the Big Give Christmas Challenge to provide two funded skills days for young drivers and riders aged 17-26 next year. To donate, click here

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS

*Research carried out by Online95 in September 2025. The figures used are for 17-24-year-olds (sample size of 202), with a wider effective sample size of 2,025 of all UK motorists.
** https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/changes-in-the-law-on-driving-while-using-a-mobile-phone/
*** RAS0701: Reported road collisions and casualties by severity, road safety factors and road user type, Great Britain, 10 years up to 2024

About the Big Give

IAM RoadSmart is taking part in the Big Give Christmas Challenge 2025, running from midday Tuesday 2nd December to midday Tuesday 9th December.

We’ve already secured £10,750 in match funding, meaning every donation made during the live week will be doubled until that pot runs out.

Our target is £21,500 total, which will fund two fully funded Skills Days for young drivers and riders aged 17–26 in 2026.

These Skills Days give young people vital, practical training to help them build confidence and stay safe on the roads.