Nearly a third of young drivers admit to taking pictures or video footage at the wheel to upload and show off on social media while driving, according to the findings of a survey by IAM RoadSmart.
The survey of 1,000 18 to 26-year-olds with a full driving licence revealed some of the riskiest things they’ve done behind the wheel, including texting and racing friends on public roads.
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.
Some 41% have driven while tired and one in six have sent a text message while driving.
Shockingly, says IAM RoadSmart, 5% of respondents said they had either driven under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Despite the results showing that approximately 90% of those polled believe they consistently follow the rules of the road, one in six admit they’ve driven in excess of 90mph.
Nicholas Lyes, policy and standards director from the charity, wants to see the government introduce a form of Graduated Driver Licencing (GDL) to gradually provide new drivers with skills and experience prior to obtaining a full licence.
He 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.”
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