Skip to main content

One in seven UK drivers admit to having sex while driving

A UK survey, commissioned by car leasing specialist OSV, has found that almost one in seven drivers admitted to sexual activity when behind the wheel of a vehicle. Men were more willing to admit to this indiscretion than women: 60% of those that admitted to participating in a sexual activity were men, while only 40% of those that confessed were women. Around 60% of those who admitted to sexual activity during driving were between the ages of 30-59 while 30% were between the ages of 18-29. Only 10% of
October 29, 2015 Read time: 2 mins
Naughty boy
A UK survey, commissioned by car leasing specialist OSV, has found that almost one in seven drivers admitted to sexual activity when behind the wheel of a vehicle.

Men were more willing to admit to this indiscretion than women: 60% of those that admitted to participating in a sexual activity were men, while only 40% of those that confessed were women.

Around 60% of those who admitted to sexual activity during driving were between the ages of 30-59 while 30% were between the ages of 18-29. Only 10% of those owning up were over the age of 60.
 
However, sexual activities was not top of the list of admissions; it was second. ‘Picking your nose’ was top, with 40% of respondents saying they had done so.

Other dangerous admissions include checking social media (10%), taking a ‘selfie’ photo (4%), driving naked (2%) and eating with utensils (2%).
 
Co-founder of OSV, Debbie Kirkley, said the survey “helps lift the lid” on what people get up to while driving. “It is deeply worrying that so many people admit to taking part in these dangerous activities. More needs to be done to help highlight and educate people about the dangers,” she said.

A US survey in June 2014 found similar discrepancies between what men and women would admit to while driving. The Accident Analysis and Prevention report found 9.3% of women admitted to having full or partial sex while driving – at up to 130kph.

The number was higher for men, with almost a third engaging in sexual activity behind the wheel.

The US study was taken from a sample of 195 male and 511 female college students at a Midwestern university who took part in an online study about having sex while driving. One driver said he was able to keep control because his passenger straddled him facing frontwards and held the wheel.

Common driving errors reported included speeding (nearly 38%), drifting into another lane, (36%) and letting go of the steering wheel (almost 11%).

Researchers at the University of South Dakota said sex-related crashes were under-reported because couple were too embarrassed.

Related Content

  • ARTBA announces student video awards
    October 21, 2016
    The winners of the 6th annual Student Transportation Video Contest by the American Road & Transportation Builders Association’s (ARTBA) have now been announced. High school students from Washington state and Massachusetts, an undergraduate at New York University and a graduate student at Carnegie Mellon were all named as winners. The selections were announced during the recent ARTBA National Convention, held in Tucson, Arizona. The winners will each receive a US$500 cash prize. The association received 3
  • Barriers to European safety: how safe is safe?
    February 1, 2021
    Roberto Impero, chief executive of SMA Road Safety, and Stefano Caterino, head of SMA's marketing, urge a major rethink about how European crash cushions and end terminals are tested for safety certification.
  • Topcon: innovation legacy drives democratisation
    February 25, 2025
    Topcon has a legacy of innovation with positioning technologies, and is now translating these groundbreaking inventions into affordable solutions - the democratisation of technology - to meet the needs of clients today. Ray O'Connor, formerly the CEO and President of Topcon Positioning Systems, is now Chairman. He and Ivan Di Federico, who is now President and CEO, explain what it takes to create a future built on a strong heritage. David Arminas reports.
  • A UK survey reveals worrying trends with regard to cell phone use amongst drivers
    April 3, 2012
    Cause for concern has been revealed by a poll of 841 drivers carried out by UK insurance company Direct Line in partnership UK road safety charity Brake. This poll revealed that 48% of those with mobile phones use them whilst driving. Worse still, with two in three drivers admitted using hand-held devices whilst at the wheel. Of those questioned, 25% stated that they use their mobile phone whilst driving at least once/week. And 44% of young motorists and more than 25% of older motorists admitted to texting