Drivers have been warned they could face fines of up to £1,000, penalty points and even a driving ban for road offences which risk putting Britons in danger.
The warning follows shocking footage filmed by a passenger in another vehicle, which shows a driver travelling at high speed watching TV on a mobile device along a major motorway near Swindon last week.
Road safety experts have warned that the behaviour is among the most dangerous on UK roads and is becoming increasingly common.
Under UK law, using a handheld mobile phone while driving is illegal. This includes watching videos, streaming content or interacting with apps.
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The standard penalty is six points and a £200 fine, but where phone use is combined with speeding or dangerous driving, courts can impose fines of up to £1,000, alongside disqualification.
Bryn Brooker, Head of Road Safety at Nextbase, warned that watching videos at motorway speeds leaves drivers with no time to react.
"Watching TV or videos while driving massively reduces reaction times and awareness, leaving no margin for error," he said.
"At 70mph, your car is travelling over 100 feet every second. Taking your eyes off the road for even a few moments to watch a video means you're effectively driving blind at speeds where collisions are far more likely to be fatal."
Drivers can be disqualified from driving and slapped with hefty fines for using devices while behind the wheel
| PA/GETTYMr Brooker said drivers often underestimate how quickly things can go wrong on motorways, with reflexes slowed down by distracted driving behind the wheel.
"The penalty for watching TV while driving would start at six points and a £200 fine, but when combined with speeding or dangerous driving, motorists can face fines of up to £1,000, a driving ban, and even prosecution," he added.
Former police officer and TV traffic expert Ben Pearson said the footage should serve as a wake-up call. "This footage is alarming, and so is how common it's becoming," he said.
"Motorways feel safe and predictable, which makes drivers complacent. But unexpected hazards — a sudden brake, a lane change, debris — require instant reactions. If your eyes are on a screen, you've already lost."
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
The police operation found multiple cases of driving offences | DEVON AND CORNWALL POLICEPolice have increasingly treated mobile phone offences as a serious road safety threat. In recent years, drivers distracted by phones have been prosecuted for dangerous driving and, in the most serious cases, jailed for causing death by dangerous driving.
National police operations have seen thousands of motorists stopped for phone use behind the wheel, with forces using unmarked lorries and roadside cameras to spot drivers watching screens, texting or scrolling social media.
Mr Pearson urged members of the public to report dangerous driving when it is safe to do so.
"I'd urge anyone who witnesses this kind of driving to report it," he said. "And for drivers tempted to use their phones, remember: no video, message, or call is worth a life."
Using a phone when at the wheel can land drivers with a fine worth £200 | PADashcam footage has become an important tool in tackling dangerous driving. Videos submitted by members of the public can be used as evidence, even when police were not present at the time of the offence.
Road safety campaigners warned that the Swindon incident highlights the risks of distraction at high speeds. At motorway speeds, even a moment's loss of concentration can have fatal consequences.
As police and experts continue to warn, watching TV while driving is not just reckless, it could cost drivers their licence, their freedom, and someone else's life.