Van drivers 'twice as likely' to use a mobile phone while driving

New mobile phone use while driving data, from the Department for Transport (DfT), shows that van drivers are twice as likely to use a hand-held device.

The annual report, based on a roadside survey carried out in autumn 2021, revealed that in Great Britain 1% of drivers were observed using a hand-held mobile phone while driving, with 0.6% observed holding the phone to their ear and 0.4% holding the phone in their hand.

However, it found a higher proportion of van drivers (1.9%) were observed using a mobile phone while driving, compared to 0.8% of car drivers. This was a similar pattern to the previous surveys in 2017 and 2014.

The highest proportion of drivers using a hand-held mobile phone while driving in 2021 was for heavy goods vehicles (2.2%).

However, the number of vehicles other than cars and vans observed was relatively low (for example, only 472 taxi or private hire vehicles were observed in a total sample of 26,497).

In terms of sex and age a higher proportion of male drivers (1.2%) were observed using a hand-held mobile phone while driving than female drivers (0.8%).

For car drivers, the proportions were broadly similar (0.9% compared to 0.8%).

RAC head of roads policy Nicholas Lyes said: “It’s concerning there has been an increase in the proportion of drivers observed using handheld mobile phones at the wheel since 2017.

"Historically, when the Government stiffens penalties, there is a drop in illegal phone use before old habits begin to creep back in again. While many drivers would like to see the penalties increased further, we believe the Government should be rolling out new camera enforcement technology similar as is already used several other countries such as Australia and the Netherlands.

"We believe this technology would be an important tool for reducing the number of unnecessary lives tragically lost on our roads each year because of this dangerous and illegal habit.”

Among all drivers and car drivers, the highest proportion of drivers observed using a mobile phone in Great Britain estimated as aged 17 to 29 with a much lower proportion observed for those estimated 60 or older.

In general, the proportion of drivers observed using a mobile phone was higher for minor roads (1.3% of all drivers in Great Britain) compared to major roads (0.8%).

Overall, there was little difference between urban and rural roads except for van drivers, where proportions of drivers using phones on rural roads was notably higher than for urban roads (2.7% compared with 0.9%).