Roadside surveys conducted on behalf of the Department for Transport suggest that in 2017, 1.1% of drivers used a hand held mobile while driving. This compares to 1.6% of all drivers in a previous survey in 2014.

But David Davies of the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety said: “Distraction is still a concern and there is suspicion that some people are getting better at concealing their phones while driving.”

He added that while it is encouraging that the number of people using a mobile phone at the wheel has decreased the risk is not just from motorists speaking on the phone, but those texting and using social media too.

David also said that any sort of electronic device used by a motorist – including those operated hands free – can be a distraction and called for a campaign to remind drivers of the road safety dangers of using a mobile phone at the wheel.

Driving while distracted by a mobile phone was a contributory factor in 33 fatal and 90 serious accidents in 2017. Using a hand held mobile at the wheel was made an offence in 2003.

RAC Foundation director Steve Gooding said: “The headline data suggests that the vast – and increasing – majority of drivers are abiding by the law. But that still means that hundreds of thousands of people aren’t and from what they see on the road many motorists will think the non compliance rates are actually much higher.”