Watching videos, livestreams and using in-car touchscreens are becoming more common distractions for drivers, with experts warning that a worrying new trend is taking hold on the roads.
Drivers are watching TikTok and YouTube behind the wheel
Road safety specialists say that alongside texting and social media use, some motorists are now watching platforms such as YouTube and TikTok while driving - increasing the risk of serious collisions.
The dangers were highlighted earlier this month in Redwood City, California, where a driver crashed into a parked police vehicle on a highway, narrowly missing an officer. Footage showed the officer jumping out of the way moments before impact. The driver later admitted he had been watching videos on YouTube and failed to notice what was happening ahead.
A spokesperson for the California Highway Patrol said: “We see people reading, watching videos, watching a football game."
The latest data from US road safety authorities shows that 3,275 people were killed due to distracted driving in 2023, with more than 300,000 injured. The figures do not break down specific causes of distraction, but experts believe the rise of video-based content is playing a growing role.
Charlie Klauer, a research scientist and associate professor at Virginia Tech, said distraction habits have changed in recent years.
He told The Guardian: “People are engaging more and more with their phones [while driving]. The progression has gone from texting to browsing and looking and watching, which we now see a lot of. It’s Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and a wide range of things.”
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), motorists aged 15 to 20 account for the largest proportion of drivers distracted at the time of fatal crashes.
At the same time, modern vehicle design may be adding to the problem. Around 97% of cars released after 2023 feature touchscreen systems, allowing drivers to access navigation, media and apps directly from the dashboard. A UK study conducted in 2020 found that using infotainment systems such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto can impair reaction times more than alcohol or cannabis.
Klauer added: “We're definitely seeing increased risk with the touchscreen itself."
In the UK, it is illegal to hold and use a mobile phone for activities such as watching videos, browsing or scrolling through apps. Drivers can only use screens for limited purposes, such as navigation, if the device is mounted and does not distract from the road.