A shocking new report has found that almost a third of young drivers have filmed or photographed themselves while driving.
The survey of 1,000 18-26 year-olds found that 31 per cent have recorded themselves and more than half of them have subsequently uploaded the content to social media to get likes, despite the potential for it to be used as incriminating evidence.
Road safety charity IAM RoadSmart says examples of such admissions of reckless driving confirm the need for the Government to introduce a Graduated Driving Licensing (GDL) scheme to monitor new drivers during their first few years on the road.
A shocking 31% of drivers aged 18-26 said they had taken a photo or filmed themselves with their smartphone while behind the wheel, with more than half of them subsequently uploading the video footage to social media, despite it being incriminating.
The worrying number of young drivers willing to break the law to film themselves while driving is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of dangerous actions displayed by newly qualified drivers.
An additional 16 percent also said they had used their phone to text and make calls while on the go.
This is despite the Government increasing penalties for touching a phone while driving a motor vehicle in 2022, with those caught facing fines of £200 and six penalty points on their licence.
Manipulating a phone in any way, from tapping the screen to scrolling through a music playlist, browsing the internet, taking a photograph or playing a mobile game, is strictly prohibited after ministers also moved to close loopholes in the law in March 2022.
And these rules also apply when drivers are stopped at a red light or stuck in traffic.
The only exceptions are for making calls to emergency services when there is no safe place to stop and for using contactless payments like Apple Pay at fast food drive-thrus and to pay tolls, while hands-free calling is still allowed.
Manipulating a phone in any way, from tapping the screen to scrolling through a music playlist, browsing the internet, taking a photograph or playing a mobile game, is strictly prohibited after ministers moved to close loopholes in the law in March 2022.
Other dangerous actions young drivers admitted to in the study included more than two in five (41 percent) getting behind the wheel when they were too tired.
One in seven (14 percent) said they have driven without wearing a seat belt, one in ten (11 percent) has run a red light and one in 12 (8 percent) has raced friends in another vehicle.
Shockingly, three per cent of the panel claimed to have driven with an alcohol level above the legal limit, while two per cent had been knowingly under the influence of drugs while driving.
Although the results show that nine out of ten respondents believe they consistently follow the rules, one in six admit to having driven at more than 90 miles per hour.
Drivers caught speeding on the motorway risk receiving between four and six points or losing their licence, while new drivers automatically lose their licence if they get six or more points within two years of passing the test.
According to the Department for Transport, one in five drivers will be involved in an accident within a year of passing their driving test, and nearly 5,000 people will be killed or seriously injured in accidents involving a young driver in 2022.
The report also follows exclusive data revealed by This is Money showing that almost 1,500 road traffic collisions in the past four years involved a student taking a driving test during their exam.
Nicholas Lyes, the charity’s director of policy and standards, says the shocking findings of its study are further evidence that the government should reconsider GDLs to put restrictions on new drivers while they gain the experience and skills needed to hold a full licence.
He said: ‘Young people can often feel invincible behind the wheel, but government statistics paint a different picture.
‘Meanwhile, our research reveals some worrying habits, such as speeding and using the phone while driving, which can have devastating consequences.
‘This shows that the government needs to consider a minimum legal learning period to allow new drivers to gain confidence, experience and skills.
‘There is also an appetite from younger drivers to take additional driving courses, but given the costs they face, we believe there must be some financial reward for doing so through lower premium or tax costs.’
Explanation of progressive driving licenses
In recent weeks other motoring organisations and road safety groups have also backed the introduction of graduated driving licences.
Among them is the AA, which has called on the new Labour government to tackle the number of teenage road deaths by limiting the number of fellow passengers in the first six months after passing the tests.
A GDL allows new drivers to go through learning and restriction stages, from driving in winter weather to limits on the number of passengers and driving at night, where supervision is required.
As new drivers progress through the stages, they gain more privileges until they are granted a full driver’s license after completing all requirements.
The RAC has also outlined its vision for a GDL system with similar conditions.
The probationary period would be two years and, according to current regulations, new drivers would have their licences revoked if they accumulate six points during the first 24 months.
Motoring organisations believe that a two-year GDL period would provide an adequate window for new drivers to gradually gain experience and reduce the risks surrounding inexperienced drivers.
Statistical evidence shows that the first 1,000 miles a young, inexperienced driver travels have the highest risk of being involved in a collision.
New Zealand is one of the countries where a similar system is already in use. In fact, a three-stage driving licence was introduced there in 1987 for all new drivers aged between 15 and 24.
Since the legislation was passed, there has been a 23 percent reduction in motor vehicle crash injuries among 15- to 19-year-olds, and a 12 percent reduction among 20- to 24-year-olds in the country.
AA President Edmund King OBE said: ‘One of the major issues that needs to be addressed is the unnecessary deaths of young drivers, their passengers and others caught up in these crashes.
‘Most people don’t realize until it’s too late that road traffic injuries are the leading cause of death among children and young adults ages five to 29, according to the World Health Organization.
“We owe it to the next generation to introduce positive measures that will help them live healthy and prosperous lives.”
Nicholas Lyes, from IAM RoadSmart, added: ‘There is evidence from around the world that progressive driving licensing saves lives and reduces injuries in places where it has been introduced.
‘In 2022, more than 300 people in Britain lost their lives following a collision involving a young driver and more than 4,500 suffered serious injuries.
“These are shocking figures and the time has come to take urgent action to prevent further unnecessary deaths on our roads.”
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