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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. The March 2022 law change — which made it illegal to touch a phone while driving in any way, not just to make calls — represents the most significant tightening of the law since the offence was first created in 2003.
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, and 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.
Written by CPD Experts
This guide was produced by the team at Online CPD Academy, a UK provider of CPD-accredited online training courses. Our Driver CPC and work-related road risk training covers distracted driving, the 2022 law change, and employer mobile phone policies.
Sources & References
- DfT / Gov.UK – Mobile Phone Use by Drivers: England 2023 (published May 2024) – https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/seatbelt-and-mobile-phone-use-surveys-2023/mobile-phone-use-by-drivers-england-2023
- House of Commons Transport Committee – Road Safety: Driving While Using a Mobile Phone (2019) – https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201719/cmselect/cmtrans/2329/232905.htm
- RAC – Using Mobile Phones While Driving: Data, Facts and Figures – https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/advice/legal/using-mobile-phones-while-driving-data-facts-and-figures/
- Road Safety GB – Alarming Figures Underline Scale of UK’s Distracted Driving Danger – https://roadsafetygb.org.uk/news/alarming-figures-underline-scale-of-uks-distracted-driving-danger/
