Crime Survey for England and Wales: self-reported driver behaviour, year ending March 2024
Published 26 September 2024
Applies to England and Wales
© Crown copyright 2024
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About this factsheet
The factsheet examines the main trends and patterns in self-reported drink driving, driving under the influence of drugs and mobile phone use whilst driving. This is based on questions asked as part of the Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW).
1. Main findings
Data on self-reported driver behaviour from the Crime Survey for England and Wales, shows that:
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the proportion of all drivers who reported that they had driven when thought to be over the alcohol limit has fallen from 7.3% in the YE September 2010 to 5% in the YE March 2024
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the proportion of all drivers who reported that they had driven when thought to be affected or under the influence of drugs has fallen from 2.3% in the YE September 2010 to 0.4% of all drivers in the YE March 2024
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the proportion of drivers who reported that they had used their mobile phone in their hand whilst driving has stayed relatively constant in recent years, and was 4% in YE March 2024
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51.7% of respondents reported that they had used their mobile phone at least once whilst driving in the YE March 2024, either by hand (4.1%) or via Bluetooth, Voice Command or dashboard holder (47.6%)
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more male drivers than female drivers reported that they had driven when they may have been over the alcohol limit, driven when under the influence of drugs and used their mobile whilst driving
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taking an average over the YE March 2023 and YE March 2024, the 20 to 24 age group had the highest rate of reporting having driven when thought to be over the alcohol limit and under the influence of drugs, and the 25 to 29 age group had the highest rate of reporting having driven whilst using a mobile phone
2. Things you need to know
To understand more about patterns of driver behaviour, including drink-driving, drug-driving and mobile phone use, the Department for Transport has sponsored questions on the Crime Survey for England and Wales. The CSEW is a face-to-face victimisation survey, in which residents of households in England and Wales are asked about their experiences of a range of crimes in the 12 months prior to the interview.
The latest annual results for the Crime Survey for England and Wales were published in July 2024 with data for YE March 2024. The full report and data tables are published on the Office for National Statistics website.
2.1 Coverage
Some questions were asked annually for the year ending (YE) September 2010 onwards, with others being added later. After 2010, the data are reported for years ending March, rather than September. Data is missing for the YE March 2021 and March 2022 due to the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) when the questions were not asked. Questions are asked of adults aged 16 and over, though in this release the 16 to 19 year old age group is sometimes omitted as sample sizes are small.
2.2 Sample sizes
The CSEW is a sample survey, which collects data from members of a population so that inferences about the entire population can be obtained from a subset, or sample, of the population members. Caution is needed when looking at trends and differences involving small sample sizes or very low percentages. Some differences may not be statistically significant. In this factsheet, grouped data for two years from 2022 to 2024 is used to allow more robust analysis by age group (where sample sizes can be smaller).
Further information on the samples sizes for the driver behaviour questions can be found in can be found in the data tables published alongside this factsheet.
2.3 Self-reported data
The CSEW data is self-reported, which introduces the limitation of subjectivity as perceptions may vary across respondents. There is increased risk of certain cognitive biases, particularly as it is a face-to-face survey, such as desirability bias (though methodology of the survey has been designed to minimise this). Also, the survey methodology runs the risk of recall error since it is a face-to-face survey in which people are asked about their experiences in the 12 months prior to the interview.
Further information on the strengths and limitations of the data, methods used, and data uses and users is available in the Quality and Methodology Information report published by the ONS.
3. Self-reported drink driving
The survey asked respondents “Have you personally driven a car, van or other motor vehicle in the last 12 months?” to determine whether respondents were ‘valid drivers’ or not.
Respondents were also asked “Thinking about all kinds of alcoholic drink, how often have you had an alcoholic drink of any kind during the last 12 months?”.
If respondents had driven a car, van or motor vehicle in the last 12 months, they were asked, “In the last 12 months how often, if at all, have you driven when you think you may have been over the legal alcohol limit, even if only by a small amount?”.
3.1 Latest frequency figures
In the YE March 2024, of the respondents that had driven in the last 12 months, 5% reported that they had driven whilst thought to be over the alcohol limit at least once.
Of those, half reported that they did so once or twice in the last 12 months.
Chart 1: Respondents reporting that they have driven whilst thought to be over the alcohol limit as a percentage of all drivers, YE March 2024.
| Frequency | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Everyday or almost every day | 0.0 |
| A few times a week | 0.2 |
| Once or twice a week | 0.5 |
| Once or twice a month | 1.0 |
| Once every couple of months | 0.8 |
| Once or twice in the last 12 months | 2.5 |
3.2 Trends
Chart 2 shows that the percentage of drivers who reported that they had driven whilst they thought that they may be over the alcohol limit has fallen overall from 7.3% in the YE September 2010 to 5% in the YE March 2024.
The proportion of drivers who reported they have driven at least once when they thought that they may be over the alcohol limit shows some fluctuation, peaking at 7.6% in the YE March 2016 and March 2017. The proportion then decreased and has been broadly stable since the YE March 2020.
As a proportion of all drivers who have drunk alcohol in the last 12 months (rather than all drivers), the percentages are slightly higher but the trends over time are similar. These figures are shown in the accompanying data tables.
Chart 2: Percentage of respondents reporting they have driven whilst thought to be over the alcohol limit, the YE September 2010 to the YE March 2024
3.3 Sex and age
Chart 3 shows that a higher proportion of male drivers reported that they had driven when they thought they may have been over the alcohol limit than female drivers.
6.2% of male drivers reported that they had driven when they thought that they may have been over the alcohol limit compared to 3.8% of female drivers in the YE March 2024.
Chart 3: Respondents reporting they have driven whilst thought to be over the alcohol limit by sex as a percentage of all drivers of each sex, YE September 2010 to the YE March 2024
Chart 4 shows the 20 to 24 age group had the highest percentage of respondents reporting they have driven whilst thought to be over the alcohol limit (6.2%). There is a decline in those reporting having driven whilst thought to be over the alcohol limit as age increases.
Chart 4: Percentage of respondents reporting they have driven whilst thought to be over the alcohol limit by age, average of YE March 2023 and YE March 2024[footnote 1]
| Category | Percentage |
|---|---|
| 20 to 24 | 6.2 |
| 25 to 29 | 5.2 |
| 30 to 39 | 5.0 |
| 40 to 49 | 4.9 |
| Over 50 | 4.7 |
4. Self-reported driving over or under the alcohol limit
The survey asked respondents “Have you personally driven a car, van or other motor vehicle in the last 12 months?” to determine whether respondents were ‘drivers’ or not.
If they had driven a car, van or motor vehicle in the last 12 months, respondents were asked “In the last 12 months how often, if at all, have you driven after drinking any alcohol? This includes drinking below the legal alcohol limit.”.
4.1 Trends
Trends in the proportion of respondents reporting having driven after drinking any alcohol (regardless of whether they perceived themselves to be over or under the alcohol limit) were similar to those for drink-driving shown in the previous section.
The percentage of drivers who reported having driven after having drunk any alcohol was 22.5% in the YE March 2020, and 19.8% in the YE March 2024.
4.2 Sex and age
23.3% of male drivers reported to have at least once driven after having drunk any alcohol, higher than the 16% of female drivers that did so. The 20 to 24 age group had the highest percentage of reported driving after drinking any alcohol. Figures are shown in the accompanying data tables.
5. Self-reported driving under the influence of illegal drugs
The survey asked respondents “Have you personally driven a car, van or other motor vehicle in the last 12 months?” to determine whether respondents were ‘valid drivers’ or not.
Respondents were then asked if they had taken any illegal drugs in the last 12 months.
If they had driven a car in the last 12 months, they were then asked, “In the last 12 months how often, if at all, have you driven when you think you may have been affected by or under the influence of illegal drugs?”.
5.1 Latest frequency figures
In the YE March 2024, of all drivers, 0.4% reported that they have driven whilst thought to be affected or under the influence of illegal drugs. Of those, around half reported that they did so once or twice in the last 12 months.
Chart 5: Respondents reporting they have driven whilst thought to be affected by or under the influence of illegal drugs as a percentage of all drivers, YE March 2024.
| Frequency | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Everyday or almost every day | 0.1 |
| A few times a week | 0.0 |
| Once or twice a week | 0.1 |
| Once or twice a month | 0.0 |
| Once every couple of months | 0.0 |
| Once or twice in the last 12 months | 0.2 |
5.2 Trends
Chart 6 shows that the proportion of those reporting that they have driven under the influence of illegal drugs fell between YE September 2010 and YE March 2024, both as a proportion of all drivers and as a proportion of all drivers who have used illegal drugs in the last 12 months.
The proportion of those reporting having driven under the influence of illegal drugs, as a proportion of all drivers who have taken drugs in the last 12 months, has decreased notably from 19.5% in the YE March 2010 to 5% in the YE March 2016 and seems to have since remained relatively constant at around 6%.
Chart 6: Respondents reporting they have driven whilst thought to be affected by or under the influence of illegal drugs, as a percentage of all drivers and of all drivers who have taken drugs in the last 12 months, YE September 2010 to YE March 2024
The proportion of all drivers reporting that they had driven while under the influence of illegal drugs is low, as the majority of drivers reported that they had not used illegal drugs in the last 12 months. Chart 7 shows this data more clearly with a different axis scale.
Chart 7 shows that the percentage of all drivers who reported to have driven when they thought that they may be under the influence of illegal drugs at least once has fallen from 2.3% in the YE September 2010 to 0.4% in the YE March 2024, though has been broadly constant over the years from YE March 2016.
Chart 7: Respondents reporting they have driven whilst thought to be affected by or under the influence of illegal drugs as a percentage of all drivers, YE September 2010 to YE March 2024
5.3 Sex and age
Chart 8 shows that a higher proportion of male drivers reported that they had driven when they thought they were under the influence of illegal drugs than female drivers.
0.6% of male drivers reported that they had driven when they thought that they were under the influence of illegal drugs compared to 0.2% of female drivers, in the YE March 2024.
The gap between males and females has narrowed in recent years with a 2.4 percentage point difference in the proportions of male and female drivers reporting that they had driven when they thought they were under the influence of illegal drugs in the YE September 2010, compared to a 0.4 percentage point difference in the YE 2024.
Chart 8: Respondents reporting they have driven whilst thought to be affected by or under the influence of illegal drugs as a percentage of all drivers, by sex, YE September 2010 to YE March 2024
Chart 9 shows the 20 to 24 year old age group had the highest percentage of self-reported driving under the influence of illegal drugs (1.5%). There is a decline in those reporting to have driven whilst under the influence of illegal drugs as age increases, with small variation in the proportions for age groups older than 20 to 24.
Chart 9: Respondents reporting they have driven whilst thought to be affected by or under the influence of illegal drugs as a percentage of all drivers, by age, average of YE March 2023 and YE March 2024[footnote 1]
| Category | Percentage |
|---|---|
| 20 to 24 | 1.5 |
| 25 to 29 | 0.6 |
| 30 to 39 | 0.5 |
| 40 to 49 | 0.2 |
| Over 50 | 0.2 |
6. Self-reported driving under the influence of ‘legal highs’
Legal highs are substances that have effects similar to drugs like cannabis, ecstasy, or cocaine and can come in different forms such as herbal mixtures, powders, crystals, tablets or liquids.
Respondents were asked “Have you ever taken these substances, formerly known as legal highs?”. If they responded that they had taken legal highs then they were asked “In the last 12 months have you taken any of these substances, formerly known as ‘legal highs’?”.
If they answered that they had taken legal highs in the last 12 months and that they had driven in the last 12 months, they were then asked, “In the last 12 months how often, if at all, have you driven after taking any substances formerly known as ‘legal highs’?”.
6.1 Trends
The percentage that reported to have driven after taking ‘legal highs’ is overall very low, and has fallen from 0.3% in the YE March 2020 to around 0.03% in the YE March 2024.
6.2 Sex and age
0.02% of male drivers reported that they had driven after taking ‘legal highs’ compared to 0.04% of female drivers in the YE March 2024. The small number of drivers reporting this behaviour means that any differences should be interpreted with caution.
The 20 to 24 age group had the highest percentage of respondents who reported driving after taking ‘legal highs’[footnote 1], as an average over the YE March 2023 and March 2024 (0.12%). Again, the small sample sizes should be kept in mind.
7. Self-reported driving under the influence of medicinal drugs
The CSEW asked respondents who answered that they had driven in the last 12 months, “In the last 12 months how often, if at all, have you driven after taking medication (either that was bought over the counter or prescribed for you) which came with advice not to drive after taking it?”.
7.1 Latest frequency figures
In YE March 2024, 3.6% of respondents reported that they had driven after taking medication which came with advice not to drive after taking it.
7.2 Trends
The percentage that reported to have driven after taking medication which came with advice not to drive after taking it has been broadly constant from the YE March 2020 to the YE March 2024.
7.3 Sex and age
4.2% of male drivers reported that they had driven after taking medication which came with advice not to drive after taking it compared to 3.1% of female drivers, in the YE March 2024.
The 20 to 24 age group[footnote 1] had the highest percentage of drivers who reported driving after taking medication which came with with advice not to drive after taking (5%).
Further figures are shown in the accompanying data tables.
8. Self-reported mobile phone use whilst driving
The survey asked respondents “Have you personally driven a car, van or other motor vehicle in the last 12 months?” to determine whether respondents were ‘drivers’ or not.
If they had driven a car, van or motor vehicle in the last 12 months, the CSEW asked “In the last 12 months, have you used your mobile phone while you were driving or stationary in traffic?”. This could be holding the phone in their hand, using it via Bluetooth, Voice Command or on a dashboard holder. Examples include using their phone for telephone calls, texting or messaging, using the internet or looking at maps.
Respondents were then asked “Thinking about the last 12 months, how often have you used your mobile phone in your hand while you were driving or stationary in traffic?”.
Note that some of the ways of using a mobile covered by this question are legal, while hand-held mobile use is illegal. Further details of driver mobile phone use legislation are published.
8.1 Latest frequency figures
Chart 10 shows that the majority of respondents either used their phone via Bluetooth, Voice Command or dashboard holder (48%) or did not use their phone at all (48%) whilst driving. 4% reported using their phone in their hand whilst driving.
Chart 10: Respondents reporting mobile phone use whilst driving as a percentage of all drivers, YE March 2024.[footnote 2]
| Frequency | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Mobile phone use in hand | 4.1 |
| Mobile phone use via Bluetooth, Voice Command or dashboard holder | 47.6 |
| No mobile phone use whilst driving | 48.0 |
Chart 11 shows that for the YE March 2024, of those who answered that they had used their phone in their hand at least once whilst driving, most did so occasionally (3.2% of all drivers).
Chart 11: How often respondents have driven whilst using their mobile phone in their hand as a percentage of all drivers, YE March 2024.
| Frequency | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Every time I drove | 0.1 |
| Most times I drove | 0.7 |
| Occasionally | 3.2 |
| Once or twice only | 0.0 |
8.2 Trends
Chart 12 shows that the percentage that reported to have used their mobile phone whilst driving has been broadly stable between YE March 2019 and YE March 2024.
Chart 12: Respondents reporting mobile phone use whilst driving as a percentage of all drivers, YE March 2019 to YE March 2024[footnote 3]
8.3 Sex and age
Chart 13 shows that more males reported that they had used their mobile phone whilst driving than females, though the differences are small and may not be statistically significant. 53% of male drivers reported that they had used their mobile phone whilst driving compared to 51% of female drivers in the YE March 2024.
Chart 13: Percentage of respondents reporting mobile phone use whilst driving by sex, YE March 2019 to YE March 2024
Chart 14 shows the percentages of those reporting using mobile phones whilst driving is broadly similar across the age groups.
The 25 to 29 age group reported the highest percentage of mobile phone use whilst driving (59%). The ‘age 50 and over’ age group had the lowest percentage of mobile phone use (46%).
Chart 14: Percentage of respondents reporting mobile phone use whilst driving by age, average of YE March 2023 and YE March 2024[footnote 1]
| Category | Percentage |
|---|---|
| 20 to 24 | 55.0 |
| 25 to 29 | 58.7 |
| 30 to 39 | 56.9 |
| 40 to 49 | 52.6 |
| Over 50 | 46.1 |
9. Background information
This data is collected as part of the CSEW, managed by ONS. Further information on the data collection is available in the Quality and Methodology Information report(QMI) published by the ONS.
9.1 CSEW sample sizes
Overall, the 2022 to 2023 CSEW sample was designed to yield interviews with a nationally representative sample of 34,000 households in England and Wales. The sample is limited in size, in particular due to the lower response rate in post COVID-19 years. This should be kept in mind when interpreting results. Further details are available as part of the QMI document.
Table 1: Number of sample interviews that took place in total each year from the YE March 2020 to the YE March 2024
| Year | Sample |
|---|---|
| 2019 to 20 | 33,734 |
| 2020 to 21 | 0 |
| 2021 to 22 | 0 |
| 2022 to 23 | 31,183 |
| 2023 to 24 | 30,847 |
9.2 Impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) on CSEW
The CSEW did not take place in the YE March 2021 and March 2022 due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic which caused severe disruption to face-to-face fieldwork.
The CSEW has experienced a lower response rate since the pandemic resulting in smaller sample sizes in the YE March 2023 and March 2024 data collection. The CSEW data quality review (June 2024) revealed that the response rate fell from 64% for the YE March 2020 to 42% in the YE 2023 but has now stabilised; this decrease has not affected the representativeness of the survey and previous research provides evidence that lower response rates have only a minor impact on estimates.
Further information on this is available in the Crime Survey for England and Wales data quality review published by the ONS.
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Age group 16 to 19 excluded from reporting in this section, due to small sample size ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5
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Percentages may not add to 100% due to the presence of inconsistent responses. These responses were considered in the total sample but not in individual frequency breakdowns. ↩
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The lines for mobile phone use by hand and mobile phone use via Bluetooth, Voice Command or dashboard holder add up to form the line for any mobile phone use. ↩