Millennial motorists being driven to distraction
Nearly four in 10 millennial drivers admit to using their smartphones behind the wheel, a new study has revealed.
A shocking 37% of both male and females admit to getting distracted by their smartphones while driving, in a study by The Car People.
Road safety campaigners will be worried these figures mean the message about the dangers of using a handheld device while driving is not getting through.
RAC sale – up to 40% off*
• Roadside cover from £5.29 a month*
• We get to most breakdowns in 60 mins or less
• Our patrols fix 4/5 breakdowns on the spot
*97% of customers achieve max 40% saving on new Standard and Extra cover for 1 person. Ends 04/11/2025 10am. At least 10% of new customers pay this for single-vehicle Standard cover.
Passengers are the second biggest distraction for younger drivers, with 27% of men and 30% of women admitting that talking in the car disrupts them.
Changing the car radio is a distraction for a quarter of younger male drivers, while just over a quarter (26%) of female drivers get side-tracked by children fighting in the backseat.
READ MORE: Mobile phone driving laws — your questions answered
Other distractions for millennial motorists include looking in the mirrors, using the vehicle controls and trying to work out sat-nav directions.
One in five men (20%) even admit to a wandering eye when driving, compared to just one in 20 (5%) woman whose attention is diverted by attractive pedestrians.
Tougher punishments for drivers using their phones behind the wheel were introduced in March 2017, with offenders now facing six penalty points and a £200 fine if caught.
SEE ALSO: 13 driving myths uncovered
To help combat phone use on the roads, the RAC has set up the Be Phone Smart campaign, an initiative aimed at raising awareness on the dangers of using a phone while driving.
Speaking earlier this summer, RAC safety spokesman Pete Williams called on the government to use more innovative ways to tackle the problem.
He said: “We fear there is a proportion of drivers who simply feel that continuing to use a hand-held phone while also trying to do something as demanding as driving is in some way 'safe', when all the evidence shows otherwise.”
Copyright Press Association 2018. Motoring News articles do not reflect the RAC's views unless clearly stated.
You might also like
Mobile phone driving laws - what is and isn't illegal?
Following recent updates to the law, the RAC looks into the legal ramifications of using a mobile phone while driving on roads across the UK. Read more here.
Safe driving with health issues: from pregnancy to old age
Various health issues and life changes can affect your ability to drive, but you might not recognise it. Check out our guide to the main things that can impair your driving.
10 driving offences you didn’t know were illegal
Here are 10 ways you can break the law, perhaps without being aware you’re doing so. Watch out for them and make sure you don’t commit them.
11 of the most annoying UK driving habits
Middle lane hogging? Driving below the speed limit? What do you think the most annoying driving habits are? Here's our choices, let's see if you agree
11 bad driving habits you should ditch right now
Here at the RAC, we've taken a look at a few widely accepted driving habits to give some clear cut advice on whether they're right or wrong.
Popular in News
1
Car buyers to save thousands as EV grant returns
2
Private parking companies issue a record 14.4m tickets to drivers in a single year
3
Drivers fined £1m from just 36 yellow box junctions in 2024
4
Road deaths on the rise in Great Britain
5
Private parking industry urged to publish ‘full and transparent’ complaints and appeals data
6
Drivers now able to search for new home that comes with EV chargers
7
Leicester’s Sean Kimberlin named as RAC Mobile Mechanic of the Year
8
Number of drivers caught using unroadworthy vehicles jumps by 52% in a year
9
Warning to drivers across the UK over fake parking apps
10