Number of drivers caught using mobile phones behind the wheel up a THIRD as AI camera rollout ramps up

The number of drivers being fined for using a mobile phone at the wheel has risen for a third year in a row.

There was a 33 per cent increase in mobile phone fines issued to drivers in 2023, while speeding fines in England and Wales have also soared to a record high, new data from the AA shows. 

Fines for using a mobile phone while driving rose from 27,776 in 2022 to 36,842 in 2023, Home Office figures reveal.

In particular, the number of young drivers using a mobile phone while driving has risen to an eight-year high, the RAC says – 21 years after using a phone behind the wheel was made an offence.

This comes after new AI cameras were rolled out across the country this year to catch drivers breaking the law. 

The state-of-the-art tech – which can be mounted to a trailer or vehicle and are positioned higher than traditional speed or traffic cameras – are so effective that freestanding AI cameras caught 117 using their mobile phones while driving on the A30 in a 72-hour period in the summer.

While using a handheld mobile device while driving became illegal 21 years ago, it was only two years ago that the Government closed a loophole that previously meant drivers could escape punishment if they could demonstrate they weren’t using the phone for ‘interactive communication’.

Along with the tightening of rules, the use of cameras and new technology, safety organisations such as The AA are calling on the Government to increase the number of traffic officers.

Jack Cousens, head of roads policy for The AA, said; ‘While cameras and new technology have an important role to play in road safety, these stats clearly show that we need more cops in cars to police the roads.

‘Yesterday, the Prime Minister said he would hire 13,000 new officers, PCSOs and Special Constables. 

‘At least 1,000 should become traffic officers to help improve road safety and stop poor driving in the act, before something tragic occurs.’

AI cameras aimed at catching people using their phone while driving are part of a wider national trial to ensure safer roads

Cases of careless driving have risen by 18 per cent, while the RAC revealed that there were 23 fatalities on UK roads in 2023 where a driver using a mobile phone was deemed to be a contributing factor in the collision – up from 18 in 2019.

In addition, distraction and impairment is a factor behind 34.9 per cent of all fatal collisions according to the latest official figures.

It’s not just mobile phone use that’s on the rise either: the number of speeding tickets issued across England and Wales has reached 2.7million – an all-time high, according to The AA.

How many drivers are using their phone illegally behind the wheel?

The RAC’s 2024 Report on Motoring found 55 per cent of drivers under 25 admitted to making and receiving voice calls behind the wheel, compared to 27 per cent of the overall driving population and just 16 per cent of those aged 65 or older.

This is up six percentage points on 2023 and three percentage points since 2016 when the data was first recorded.

Young drivers are again leading the illegal use of mobile phones when it comes to voice notes too.

AI-powered cameras previously used in Devon caught 117 people using their mobile phones in just three days

Two in five younger motorists also said they have listened to a voice note while driving without using hands-free, while 40 per cent have recorded such a message. The corresponding rates for the overall driving population are just 14 per cent and 9 per cent respectively.

Across all age groups, 15 per cent of all drivers have checked messages on their phones, and one-in-10 say they have used their phones to write texts, emails or social media posts while driving.

There’s also been a notable increase in drivers taking photos and/or recording videos: in 2024, almost 8 per cent admit to having done so in the past 12 months, up from 5 per cent in both 2023 and 2022.

Illegal mobile phone use while driving is higher among younger motorists

Non-compliance with the law is again significantly higher among younger drivers, with 39 per cent of under-25s having checked messages manually when driving.

Almost a third have taken a picture or recorded a video, a steep increase on 2023’s 19 per cent.

And 40 per cent of under-25s have made or received a video call while driving, up from 30 per cent in 2023 and 17 per cent in 2022.

Road safety campaigners said a greater visible presence of officers was needed.

Hugh Bladon, from the Alliance of British Drivers, said: ‘They have given up on policing our roads properly and want to shove up a load of cameras in the hope that it will do the trick.

‘But they are not a good enough deterrent. People will stop looking at their phones near a camera, then start again. They will think they can get away with it.

‘The only way to deter people properly is to get police back on the roads, giving people a ticket or a bloody good telling-off.

The rollout of AI cameras to catch people using their phones while driving

An AI traffic camera, above, was used in East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire in June

The RAC found 22 per cent of drivers said handheld mobile phone use behind the wheel is their top motoring concern, with 77 per cent of all drivers saying they would like to see the widespread introduction of cameras designed to detect illegal phone use at the wheel.

Drivers will therefore be happy to know that AI camera rollout for this exact purpose has increased largely this year.

In September This is Money reported that Greater Manchester is the latest area to introduce new AI cameras on roads, as part of a survey to find out how many drivers break the law and to help future road safety campaigns relating to mobile phones and seat belts.

The cameras capture passing vehicles (they can track objects moving up to 300km an hour), and the photos are then run through AI to detect whether someone is using their smartphone while driving or if someone in the car is not wearing a seatbelt. 

RAC road safety spokesman Rod Dennis said: ‘Hopefully, growing use of AI cameras which a will get the message across that offenders will be caught and punished’

As well as catching motorists on mobile phones, the cameras can also detect people who are not wearing seatbelts – both of which are ‘key factors’ in crashes.

Calling the ‘increasing number’ of young drivers using their phones while driving ‘extremely concerning’, RAC road safety spokesman Rod Dennis said: ‘We suspect a major reason for this is drivers not believing they are likely to be caught. 

‘But hopefully, growing use of AI cameras which allow police to detect drivers breaking the law will get the message across that offenders will be caught and punished with six penalty points and a £200 fine. For young drivers who passed their tests in the last two years, this means losing their licences.’

A Department for Transport spokesman said: ‘There are tough laws in place to clamp down on phone use behind the wheel.’ 

Which regions have AI cameras?

National Highways and police forces across England have extended an ongoing trial that began in 2021 and will now run until March 2025.

The 10 police forces taking part in the rollout are Greater Manchester, Durham, Humberside, Staffordshire, West Mercia, Northamptonshire, Wiltshire, Norfolk, Thames Valley Police and Sussex.

The trial is aimed at helping police forces to understand how AI technology could work on National Highway roads and shape any nationwide rollout.

In the future, AI cameras would be attached to gantries on motorways in the trial regions.

How effective are AI cameras? 

Freestanding AI cameras on the A30 near Launceston in Devon had caught 117 people using their mobile phones while driving in a 72-hour period in July.

A further 130 people were snapped not wearing their seat belt.

In July 2023, Hampshire and the Thames Valley police detected almost 500 offences in a week after using a van with AI cameras mounted on it.

Positioned on the A34 and A303 as part of a National Police Chiefs’ Council campaign, the Acusensus ‘Heads Up’ vehicle caught motorists using their phones, not wearing seat belts and driving under the influence of drugs.

A total of 86 drivers were suspected of using a phone. Some 273 motorists or passengers were suspected of not wearing a seat belt and a further 132 mechanical offences identified.

After checks by a member of staff were carried out, five arrests were made.