93% rise in drivers using their mobiles at the wheel

The number of motorists being caught using their mobile phones behind the wheel has almost doubled in a year, research shows.

Fixed penalties for mobile phone use by drivers soared by 93 per cent between 2021 and 2022, the AA has revealed.

Almost 38,000 drivers were caught using a hand- held device in 2022, compared to 19,600 the previous year.

There were also a record number of drivers clocked speeding, with more than 2.5million motorists issued either a penalty, a driver

‘Hold drivers to account’

awareness course or sent to court.

The Daily Mail’s end The Mobile Madness campaign succeeded in tougher penalties for drivers who recklessly put the lives of others at risk by using their phones.

Following a change in the law in March 2022, motorists can be stopped if they use a handheld phone behind the wheel for any use, not just for calling someone.

This includes taking photos or videos, scrolling through music playlists, using sat nav, streaming services or playing games.

Drivers face a £200 fixed penalty notice and six points on their licence.

Since 2003 it has been an offence to use a hand-held mobile phone while driving in Britain, but the law was tightened after many motorists avoided prosecution by arguing they were not using it for ‘interactive communication’. Despite this, thousands of drivers still continue to flout the ban.

Police forces across the UK are now receiving more video footage and evidence of dangerous and poor road behaviours, meaning that the chances of being caught has grown significantly through citizen owned cameras, The AA said.

Jack Cousens, head of roads policy for the breakdown agency, said: ‘Almost three million drivers were caught and prosecuted for how they acted on the roads.

‘With speeding at a record high, it is a timely reminder that the best regulator of speed is the driver’s right foot.

‘The AA led the campaign to highlight the dangers of picking up the phone while driving, now we need drivers to hang up their handset rather than fiddle with the phone.

‘With the rise of dashcams and riders wearing cameras, police forces are utilising the footage to hold drivers to account and using the film as evidence to prosecute offenders.’