Three in 10 drivers under 34 use a phone while driving weekly – Select Car Leasing

Research conducted by Select Car Leasing has found that 31% of drivers aged between 18 and 34 admitted to using a phone illegally while driving at least once a week.

71% of 18 to 24-year-olds said they had held and used a phone or smart device illegally while driving at least once.

One in 20 (6%) in this age group reported that they used their phone while driving daily, while 15% said they did so multiple times a week and 10% said it happened once a week.

37% of drivers as a whole admitted to phone use, with 16% reporting that it was a weekly occurrence.

Select Car Leasing said that the rate of phone use while driving fell as the driver’s age increased.

Graham Conway, managing director at Select Car Leasing, said: “All drivers, whether young or old, should recognise the dangers of becoming dangerously distracted while using a mobile device.

“So it’s startling to see so many young motorists admitting illegal phone use with such frequency – in some cases on a daily basis.

“Department for Transport stats show that, per mile driven, 17–24-year-olds have a high risk of being killed or seriously injured on UK roads.