The shocking rise of risky phone use while driving – and why drivers think it’s safe

A growing number of Australian motorists believe they can safely juggle their phone and the operation of their car simultaneously. That’s according to new survey data that points to a worrying trend in driver distraction.

Are Australian drivers becoming more risk aggressive when it comes to illegally using their phones while driving?

Data gathered from a survey of 1000 Australian drivers aged 18 and over found that confidence using a phone while driving has steadily climbed over the past five years – from 12 per cent in 2020 to 22 per cent in 2025.

The data reveals a stark generational divide in phone use behind the wheel.

Young drivers aged 17–25 are significantly more likely to engage in risky behaviour, with 46.1% admitting to looking at a phone held in their hand compared to just 28.1% of drivers 26 and over – a gap of nearly 18%.

To recap, using a mobile phone while driving is illegal in Australia.

Drivers cannot hold, touch, or even rest a phone on their body such as on their lap – even at traffic lights. Drivers caught by police or cameras for violations can expect fines and demerit points.

Full licence holders can only use phones secured in a cradle or hands-free via Bluetooth or smartphone mirroring (Apple CarPlay etc) for audio calls, music, or navigation.

All other uses – such as texting, social media, photos, video and forth – are prohibited by law.

Learner/P1 drivers cannot use their phone at all in some states (NSW, QLD, SA, TAS, VIC).

These laws also cover tablets, smartwatches, and other distracting devices.

The data also shows that younger drivers are more prone to checking phones placed in legal cradles (46.2% vs 37.4%) and using voice commands (30.6% vs 25.2%).

Unsurprisingly, the gap narrows when it comes to using vehicle controls like steering wheel buttons, with younger drivers only slightly ahead at 42% compared to 38.3% for older drivers.

This suggests that while built-in vehicle technology is used across all age groups, younger drivers are far more tempted to directly interact with their phones while driving, despite knowing the legal and safety risks.

The survey of mobile phone use while driving was conducted by insurer Budget Direct and when asked why they used their phones while operating a motor vehicle, 44 per cent said they felt capable of doing so safely.

Studies have shown that using a mobile phone while driving can be as dangerous as being drunk behind the wheel.

Despite their growing confidence, most drivers surveyed still recognise the dangers.

Thirty per cent named texting while driving as the road behaviour most likely to cause a fatal crash – ranking it above speeding (18%) and not wearing a seatbelt (5%), though behind drink driving (40%).

Interestingly, older Australians were more likely to view texting as a greater danger than drink driving, with 43% of those aged 58–67 and 39% of those aged 68–75 holding this view.

The steady rise in phone use behind the wheel suggests distraction is becoming normalised among Australian drivers.

Road safety advocates warn that without stronger enforcement and education, the consequences could be deadly, especially as technology and the integration of AI continues to evolve at a rapid pace.

When it comes to reducing distracted driving, tougher penalties were the most popular solution (35%) cited by those in the survey, followed by mobile detection cameras (23%) and more education campaigns (18%).

However, 12% of drivers said nothing would make them put their phone down, suggesting that the line between convenience and risk is becoming increasingly blurry – if not invisible – for many drivers.

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