Young drivers filming themselves while driving for social media likes

A third of young drivers have admitted to filming themselves while driving before posting it on social media. 

That's according to new research by safety charity IAM Roadsmart. Other risky behaviour by younger drivers includes eating behind the wheel, driving while tired while 1 in 6 drivers say they have sent a text message while driving.

Alarmingly, 1 in 20 say they have driven while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Also in the top 20 list of things young drivers have done behind the wheel include driving with headphones on, applying makeup, racing friends and letting someone else hold the steering wheel while driving.

The research of 18 to 26-year-olds reveals that while 9 in 10 believe they consistently follow the rules of the road, 1 in 6 admit to have driven at speeds of over 90mph.

If caught, warns IAM RoadSmart, which carried out the research, motorists would face four to six points, or losing their licence entirely.

The risk is even higher for new drivers, who would automatically lose their licence if they get six or more points within two years of passing their test.

1 in 5 drivers crash within a year of passing their test, according to Department for Transport figures. Nearly 5000 people were either killed or seriously injured from a crash involving a young driver in 2022.

"Young people can often feel invincible behind the wheel, but the Government statistics paint a different picture," says IAM RoadSmart policy and standards director Nicholas Lyes.

With the research revealing worrying habits, like speeding and using phones behind the wheel, the IAM is again calleding for the Government to introduce a statutory minimum period of learning to allow new drivers to gain confidence, experience and skills.

The IAM says that while there is an appetite for younger drivers to take additional driving courses, given the costs they face, it believe there must be some financial reward for doing so, through lower premium costs or taxation.