New research has found that one in four drivers has admitted to breaking a vital motoring rule.
The study found that over a quarter (27 per cent) of drivers have held or used a mobile phone while behind the wheel.
It also revealed that more than 11 million motorists have admitted to using a mobile device when driving around the UK.
The research, from Go.Compare, outlined that 45 per cent of drivers use their mobile phones on a daily basis.
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Over 11 million drivers admitted to using mobile behind the wheel
GETTYMeanwhile, just under a third (28 per cent) of drivers said they use their phone once or twice a week.
Looking at rule breakers by demographic, only 14 per cent of those under 25 said they had used a phone at the wheel.
In comparison, drivers aged 55 and over were the least likely to check their devices while driving.
Drivers between 25 and 54, however, were found to be much more likely to use their phone while driving, with those aged between 25 and 39 being 39 per cent more likely than any other age group.
If caught using a phone while behind the wheel, drivers could be fined £200 and given up to six penalty points.
Drivers who have been fined in the past could also see their car insurance policies go up as research found premiums costing £369 more for those issued with a penalty.
The average car insurance price for those with no motoring offences on their policy was £625 in 2023, but for drivers who have an offence, it costs as much as £994.
To avoid being hit with high prices and getting a policy invalidated, the comparison site warned drivers to inform their insurers if they receive a penalty.
Tom Banks, a car insurance expert at Go.Compare, explained that it’s “alarming” that such a significant number of motorists are taking such a “dangerous gamble”.
He said: “Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon to see a driver holding their device while on the road, and that poses a serious risk to everyone’s safety, as it means that an incident is statistically much more likely to occur.
“We can’t stress enough the importance of resisting temptation and leaving your phone untouched while behind the wheel - it simply isn’t worth the safety consequences. Then there’s the financial repercussions, too.”
Banks stated that getting caught could leave drivers more than £500 worse off, “so it’s just not worth the risk”.
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Drivers caught on their phone face a £200 penaltyGETTYFor drivers that need to use their device in an emergency, Banks said the safest thing is to pull over as soon as it’s safe before picking up a device.