Third of young drivers film for social media

Research from road safety charity IAM RoadSmart has found that nearly a third of young drivers admit to taking pictures or video footage while driving to show off on social media.

A survey of 1,000 18 to 26-year-olds found that almost a third (31%) have either filmed, photographed or done both while driving, and 57% of those admitted to subsequently uploading the content to social media.

Meanwhile, 41% have driven while tired and one in six have sent a text message while driving. Shockingly, one in 20 have either driven under the influence of alcohol or drugs and one in six admit they’ve driven in excess of 90 miles per hour.

According to the Department of Transport, one in five drivers crash within one year of passing their driving test, with nearly 5,000 people killed or seriously injured from a crash involving a young driver in 2022.

Young drivers

Nicholas Lyes, policy and standards director from the charity, said: “Young people can often feel invincible behind the wheel, but the government statistics paint a different picture. Meanwhile our research reveals some worrying habits, like speeding and using phones behind the wheel, all of which can have devastating consequences.

“This shows the government needs to consider a statutory minimum period of learning to allow new drivers to gain confidence, experience and skills.

“There is also an appetite for 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 costs or taxation.”