You could be hit with an unlimited fine and up to nine penalty points for having a laugh with your mates in the car
A worrying number of young drivers admit their passengers distract them in the car - but it could cost you a hefty fine and even see you lose your licence
MOTORISTS could be slapped with a hefty penalty if they allow themselves to be distracted by their passengers.
New research has revealed a worrying number of young drivers admit having their friends or family in the car causes them to pay less attention to the road.
But those who joke around with their mates and are driven to distraction could be at risk of a careless driving charge.
Conducted by black box provider MORE TH>N Smart Wheels, the research found a whopping third of drivers aged 18-25 found their passengers distracting.
A further 62 per cent feel that having more passengers in the car makes it harder to concentrate on driving, while 85 per cent agreed that distracting passengers increase your chances of having an accident.
If you are involved in an accident and your passengers have caused a distraction, you could be charged with driving without due care and attention (careless driving).
Police can give you a £100 on-the-spot fine and up to three penalty points on your licence if they think you are not paying full attention to the road or driving in a careless manner.
But if you were involved in an accident, it's likely the case will go to court, where you could receive an unlimited fine, up to nine penalty points and even a court-imposed driving ban.
Research also revealed drivers are pressured into bad behaviours by their passengers.
Around 18 per cent of youngsters said their passengers encouraged them to speed, while others were persuaded to play loud music, eat and even use their phone behind the wheel.
But more than a third of new drivers said having their parents in the car actually made them pay more attention to the road.
Gareth Davies, head of motor at , said: "The majority of young drivers drive well. However, our research shows that it’s not always the drivers who cause problems behind the wheel.
"Anything or anyone that takes a driver’s eyes off the road or affects the driver’s concentration, even if for a few seconds, is a huge hazard to both them and other road users.
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"What friends and passengers deem fun at the time can have serious consequences, so we want to encourage passengers to have more awareness of their behaviours whilst in cars and to take more responsibility as passengers.
"That’s why we're encouraging young people to think about the way they behave when they’re in the car with friends and new drivers."
Earlier this year, we revealed more than half of Brits engage in bad habits behind the wheel.