Overview
- A March 2026 RAC-commissioned survey released in late May found 15% of drivers admitted to browsing, texting or posting on social media while driving, matching the 2018 peak.
- The survey recorded a sharp rise in video-related misuse, with 9% saying they had watched, recorded or livestreamed from a phone while driving, up from 5% in 2024.
- Drivers under 25 reported the highest rates of illegal phone use, with 27% admitting to such behaviour and many saying they had filmed or typed while behind the wheel.
- Official data show the harm and enforcement pressure: Department for Transport figures list 21 deaths in 2024 where phone use was a contributory factor and Home Office records show 40,723 convictions for handheld phone use that year.
- Senior police and safety officials are urging stepped-up education and targeted enforcement, and recent court convictions for watching video while driving are being used to publicise penalties and deter repeat offending.