Mobile Phone While Driving Statistics UK: The Definitive Guide (2026)

More Than 50,000 Illegal Phone Uses Every Day: An analysis of DfT survey data estimates there may be more than 50,000 instances of people driving while using a hand-held phone every single day in England.

In 2022, 22 people were killed and 652 were injured in road collisions where a driver using a mobile phone was recorded as a contributory factor. And survey data consistently shows that the illegal use of phones at the wheel is rising — particularly among young drivers.

Using a hand-held phone while driving is not merely a minor infraction. Research demonstrates it is cognitively equivalent to driving at the UK legal alcohol limit.

Key facts and figures

• 22 killed, 652 injured in 2022 road collisions where a driver using a mobile phone was recorded as a contributory factor (DfT).
• 665 accidents relating to phone use while driving were recorded in 2023.
• 50,000+ per day: estimated instances of driving while using a hand-held phone every day in England (DfT analysis with Acusensus).
• 0.3% of drivers were observed using a mobile phone while driving in the 2023 roadside observation survey.
• 0.6% of van drivers were observed using a phone — the highest rate, against 0.2% of car drivers.
• 55% of under-25s admitted making or receiving voice calls while driving — versus just 16% of those aged 65+ (2024 RAC).
• 43% of younger drivers reported listening to voice notes while driving without hands-free.
• ~0.05% BAC equivalent: using a hand-held phone while driving is equivalent to a blood alcohol level of about 0.05% — the drink-drive limit in most of Europe.
• £200 & 6 points: the penalty for using a hand-held phone while driving.
• 6,200 prosecutions for handheld phone offences in England and Wales in 2021 — down from 31,400 in 2011.

More than 50,000 illegal phone uses every day

An analysis of DfT survey data estimates there may be more than 50,000 instances of people driving while using a hand-held phone every single day in England. In 2022, 22 people were killed and 652 were injured in road collisions where a driver using a mobile phone was recorded as a contributory factor — and survey data consistently shows that the illegal use of phones at the wheel is rising, particularly among young drivers.

Using a hand-held phone while driving is not merely a minor infraction. Research demonstrates it is cognitively equivalent to driving at the UK legal alcohol limit — a hand-held phone is associated with a blood alcohol level of approximately 0.05%, the same as the drink-drive limit in most of Europe. Even a hands-free call creates a cognitive distraction that elevates accident risk for up to 5 minutes after the call ends.

Key facts & figures (overview)

• In 2022, 22 people were killed and 652 were injured in road collisions where a driver using a mobile phone was recorded as a contributory factor (DfT).
• 665 total accidents relating to phone use while driving were recorded in 2023.
• An estimated more than 50,000 instances of driving while using a hand-held phone occur every day in England (DfT analysis with Acusensus).
• In the 2023 roadside observation survey, 0.3% of all vehicle drivers were observed using a mobile phone while driving.
• Van drivers had the highest observed rate: 0.6% compared to 0.2% of car drivers.
• Males and drivers estimated as aged 17–29 were more likely to be observed using a phone than females and older drivers.
• 2016 was the peak year for KSI casualties and fatal or serious collisions resulting from mobile phone use while driving.
• In the 2024 RAC Report on Motoring: 55% of drivers under 25 admitted to making or receiving voice calls while driving — compared to just 16% of those aged 65+.
• 43% of younger drivers reported listening to voice notes while driving without hands-free.
• In 2025 RAC data: 7% of all drivers believe they have driven over the drink-drive limit — and 18% of under-25s now say they have driven over the limit; in the same survey, 16% of passengers said they had been in a car where they suspected the driver was using their phone.
• Using a hand-held phone while driving is equivalent to a blood alcohol level of approximately 0.05% — the same as the drink-drive limit in most of Europe.
• A call made hands-free creates a cognitive distraction that elevates accident risk for up to 5 minutes after the call ends.
• The March 2022 law change made it illegal to use a phone while driving in any way — including to check the time, skip a track, or use as a sat nav when not secured in a holder. Penalty: £200 fixed penalty notice and 6 points.
• In 2021 there were 6,200 prosecutions for handheld phone offences in England and Wales — down dramatically from 31,400 in 2011.

The law: what changed in March 2022

Prior to March 2022, the law prohibited drivers from using a phone to make interactive communications while holding it. This created a narrow exception that was regularly exploited — drivers could legally take photos, browse the internet, or check maps while holding a phone, as long as they were not in a live call.

The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2022 closed this loophole. It is now illegal to use a hand-held device while driving in any way — the only exceptions are: calling 999 in a genuine emergency where it is not possible to stop, making a contactless payment at a drive-through, and using the device as a hands-free remote access key.

Permitted uses include:

• Devices in a secure cradle for navigation (hands-free).
• Voice-activated controls.
• Fully hands-free calling.

Fleet and employer implications

Mobile phone use while driving is both a road safety issue and a workplace safety issue. The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 requires employers to manage the risks associated with employees driving for work — including the risk posed by mobile phone use. Employer responsibilities include:

• Having a clear written policy on mobile phone use while driving for work.
• Providing hands-free systems in company vehicles.
• Not calling or texting employees who are known to be driving.
• Setting voicemail expectations so employees are not under pressure to answer calls while driving.
• Including mobile phone policy in induction and ongoing driver training.

Employers can face prosecution under the HSWA 1974 if an employee causes a fatal road accident while driving for work and using a mobile phone — particularly if the employer's culture or expectations encouraged or tolerated phone use while driving.

Many employers fold these duties into wider workplace safety training. Our Risk Assessment Training and Manual Handling Training help managers identify and manage the procedural and human risks that sit behind statistics like these.

Sources & references

• DfT / Gov.UK – Mobile Phone Use by Drivers: England 2023 (published May 2024)
• House of Commons Transport Committee – Road Safety: Driving While Using a Mobile Phone (2019)
• RAC – Using Mobile Phones While Driving: Data, Facts and Figures
• Road Safety GB – Alarming Figures Underline Scale of UK's Distracted Driving Danger

Mark McShane

Health & Safety Training Specialist, Online CPD Academy

Mark writes about workplace health and safety, compliance and accredited training for Online CPD Academy, the UK's leading online training company.