Multitaskers or distracted drivers?
- Over 14 million (14.8 million) motorists admit to carrying out other tasks whilst driving or temporarily stationary in their vehicles
- Personal grooming – including drivers doing their hair, applying make-up, painting their nails, shaving or brushing their teeth are amongst the most common in-car distractions
- Distracted drivers caused 10 collisions on UK roads every day in 2023
- Gen Z are four times more likely to multitask while driving than all other age groups combined
Motorists are putting themselves and others at risk as 14.8 million admit to multitasking while driving – whether moving or stationary - new research from Direct Line motor insurance1 reveals.
Driving while distracted has dangerous consequences. According to the most recent government data2, distracted drivers were, on average, responsible for one in 20 collisions (five per cent), equivalent to ten collisions a day. Of the 3,564 collisions linked to distracted driving recorded in 2023, 95 caused fatalities – more than were recorded in each of the five years prior.
Distractions can come in a number of forms, whether it is something spotted on the road, or something the driver chooses to do behind the wheel distracting them from the road. Over a third of UK motorists (35 per cent) confess to doing this and multitasking. One in ten (11 per cent) drivers admit to styling their hair, nine per cent confess to applying make-up, and a further nine per cent are plucking out hairs – all while behind the wheel. Alarmingly, eight per cent of drivers confessed to reading a book, and seven per cent even claimed to clean their teeth – good for personal hygiene but not so good for keeping focused on the road.
What is more concerning is that multitasking is almost as common in a moving vehicle (20 per cent) as it is in a temporarily stationary one (23 per cent). Drivers even admit to changing their clothes (four per cent), using a laptop or tablet (four per cent), or reading a few pages of their latest book (four per cent), while driving. It is also revealed that some will craft (three per cent), watch streamed content (three per cent) or even switch drivers (three per cent), whilst on the move.
Table one: Activities drivers do while on the road
Activity |
Percentage of UK drivers who were driving a moving vehicle |
Percentage of UK drivers who were driving, but the vehicle was stationary (e.g. at traffic lights or in a traffic jam) |
Styled hair |
Four per cent |
Seven per cent |
Danced enthusiastically |
Four per cent |
Five per cent |
Put on make-up |
Four per cent |
Five per cent |
Plucked out hairs |
Four per cent |
Six per cent |
Read a book |
Four per cent |
Five per cent |
Switched the person driving |
Three per cent |
Five per cent |
Learnt a language |
Four per cent |
Four per cent |
Used a laptop/tablet |
Four per cent |
Four per cent |
Changed clothes |
Four per cent |
Four per cent |
Watched streamed content e.g. Netflix / TV show |
Three per cent |
Five per cent |
Cleaned teeth |
Four per cent |
Four per cent |
Shaved |
Four per cent |
Three per cent |
Painted nails |
Three per cent |
Four per cent |
Played on a gaming device (Gameboy / Nintendo) |
Three per cent |
Four per cent |
Crafts (e.g. knitting/crocheting) |
Three per cent |
Three per cent |
Source: Direct Line Motor Insurance 2025
Matt Pernet, Head of Direct Line Motor Insurance, commented: “Distractions behind the wheel are everywhere, both inside and outside the vehicle, which is why staying alert to all potential dangers is so important. In an age of constant connectivity, technology can easily draw your attention away from the road for extended periods, even before considering the added risks associated with multitasking while driving.”
Multitasking appears to be generational, as 70 per cent of Gen Z drivers admit to doing so. On average, Gen Z were five times more likely to multitask while driving than Boomers, and more than twice as likely than Gen X. A quarter of Gen Z drivers (25 per cent) admit to having read a book at the wheel and one in five (20 per cent) have even tried to do crafts, like knitting or crochet.
Attempting to combine personal grooming and driving is also common among Zoomers. Over a third (35 per cent) of Gen Z drivers admit to styling their hair at the wheel while almost a quarter (23 per cent) confess to brushing their teeth or applying make-up, and around a fifth (22 per cent) even admit to shaving. In stark contrast, not a single Boomer (aged 60-78) admitted to brushing their teeth or shaving while driving.
Table two: Generational differences in multitasking behaviours
Activity |
Percentage of Generation Z drivers |
Percentage of millennial drivers |
Percentage of generation X drivers |
Percentage of boomer drivers |
Styled hair |
35 per cent |
18 per cent |
Four per cent |
One per cent |
Dance enthusiastically |
30 per cent |
15 per cent |
Three per cent |
Zero |
Changed clothes |
26 per cent |
12 per cent |
Two per cent |
Zero |
Read a book |
25 per cent |
14 per cent |
Three per cent |
One per cent |
Switched the person driving |
24 per cent |
14 per cent |
Three per cent |
One per cent |
Plucked out hairs |
24 per cent |
17 per cent |
Five per cent |
One per cent |
Cleaned teeth |
23 per cent |
12 per cent |
Two per cent |
Zero |
Used a laptop/tablet |
23 per cent |
13 per cent |
Two per cent |
Zero |
Watched streamed content e.g. Netflix / TV show |
23 per cent |
13 per cent |
Two per cent |
Zero |
Put on make-up |
23 per cent |
16 per cent |
Four per cent |
Zero |
Learnt a language |
22 per cent |
13 per cent |
Three per cent |
One per cent |
Shaved |
22 per cent |
11 per cent |
Two per cent |
Zero |
Put in or remove contact lenses |
21 per cent |
10 per cent |
Two per cent |
Zero |
Filed or buffed nails |
20 per cent |
13 per cent |
Two per cent |
One per cent |
Crafts e.g. knitting/crocheting |
20 per cent |
Nine per cent |
Two per cent |
Zero |
Played on a gaming device (Gameboy / Nintendo) |
19 per cent |
11 per cent |
Two per cent |
Zero |
Painted nails |
19 per cent |
12 per cent |
Two per cent |
Zero |
Source: Direct Line Motor Insurance 2025
Matt Pernet, Head of Direct Line Motor Insurance, added: “Added distractions can contribute to risky driving behaviour, which is why we urge all drivers to reassess their in-car habits to help prevent serious accidents. It is concerning to see how many drivers attempt to put on make-up, read books or watch their favourite Netflix series while on the road.”
A quarter (24 per cent) of people who have witnessed a distracted driver say that they saw them run a red light and one in five (21 per cent) have seen distracted drivers failing to stop at pedestrian crossings. Alarmingly, one in 20 (five per cent) have seen another vehicle having to swerve to avoid a distracted driver, resulting in significant damage to their vehicle.
Drivers also admitted to being distracted at the wheel themselves, as a consequence of this, six per cent collided with another vehicle, while five per cent said they had veered off the road while distracted.
Table three: Dangerous consequences of multitasking from the perspective of UK drivers
Activity |
Percentage of UK adults who have seen a distracted driver do this in the last year
|
Percentage of multitasking drivers who admit to doing this in the last year |
Drove through a red light |
24 per cent |
Seven per cent |
Didn’t stop at a give way sign |
16 per cent |
Seven per cent |
Didn’t stop for pedestrians crossing e.g.: zebra crossing |
21 per cent |
Eight per cent
|
Swerved into oncoming traffic and almost hit a vehicle |
12 per cent |
Seven per cent |
Collided with another vehicle and caused minor damage |
Six per cent |
Seven per cent |
Swerved off to the side of the road and caused minor damage |
Six per cent |
Seven per cent |
Crashed into a stationary object and caused minor damage |
Six per cent |
Six per cent |
Swerved off to the side of the road and caused significant damage |
Five per cent |
Five per cent |
Crashed into a stationary object and caused significant damage |
Four per cent |
Seven per cent |
Collided with another vehicle and caused significant damage |
Four per cent |
Six per cent |
Source: Direct Line Motor Insurance 2025
ENDS
Notes to Editors
1. Research conducted by Direct Line Motor Insurance on a sample of 2,000 UK Adults (~1,500 UK drivers) from 14 March 2025 - 18 March 2025.
2. Government road safety statistics 2023 – RAS0701: Reported Road collisions and casualties by severity, road safety factors and road user type, Great Britain, 10 years up to 2023. According to Dept. of Transport data 3,600 accidents in 2023 had driver distraction as a contributing factor: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/reported-road-accidents-vehicles-and-casualties-tables-for-great-britain#factors-contributing-to-collisions-and-casualties-ras07.
For further information please contact:
Direct Line Group:
Chelsey Wheeler
Deputy Head of News and Issues
Email: Chelsey.wheeler@directlinegroup.co.uk
PR team:
Fleishman Hillard
Email: directlinegroupmedia@fleishman.com
Phone: 07808 727280
Direct Line
Started in 1985, Direct Line became the first UK insurance company to use the telephone as its main channel of communication. It provides motor, home and pet insurance cover direct to customers by phone or on-line.
Direct Line general insurance policies are underwritten by U K Insurance Limited, Registered office: The Wharf, Neville Street, Leeds LS1 4AZ. Registered in England and Wales No 1179980. U K Insurance Limited is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority.
Direct Line and U K Insurance Limited are both part of Direct Line Insurance Group plc.
Customers can find out more about Direct Line products or get a quote by calling 0345 246 3761 or visiting www.directline.com/car-cover