Organisation: Department for Transport (DfT)
Date of Publication: July 2022
Uploaded to Knowledge Centre: 10 August 2022
This statistical release provides an overview of the proportion of drivers observed using a hand-held mobile phone whilst driving in Great Britain, from a roadside observation survey carried out in autumn 2021, with links to related information including self-reported use.
While observations were made at the same sites as in the previous 2017 survey, a different, video-based observation method was used in 2021. Results are therefore not directly comparable.
The statistics show, for weekdays in 2021:
- In Great Britain, 1.0% of drivers were observed using a hand-held mobile phone whilst driving, with 0.6% observed holding the phone to their ear and 0.4% holding the phone in their hand.
- In England and Wales, 1.0% of drivers were observed using a mobile phone whilst driving (to ear or in hand), compared to 0.9% of drivers in Scotland
- In Great Britain, 1.9% of van drivers were observed using a mobile phone whilst driving, compared to 0.8% of car drivers
- Males, and drivers estimated as aged 17 to 29 years, were more likely to be observed using a mobile phone while driving than females and drivers estimated as being aged 60 or over respectively
Comparisons with the previous survey should be made with caution in view of changes in the survey methodology. The 2021 figure of 0.8% for car (including taxi and private hire vehicle) drivers in England and Wales compares with an equivalent figure of 0.6% for 2017.
Click below to access the full statistical release via the gov.uk website: