According to the survey, British drivers were the most likely to photograph themselves while on the move (33%), ahead of counterparts in Germany (28%), France (28%), Romania (27%), Italy (26%), Spain (18%), and Belgium (17%).

The survey of 7,000 smartphone users aged 18-24 from across Europe also showed one in four people had used social media sites behind the wheel; and that young male drivers were the most likely to ignore the risks. Nearly all drivers surveyed agreed the activities were dangerous.

Ford has found that snapping a “selfie” at the wheel could distract a driver for 14sec, and checking social media distracts for as much as 20sec – long enough, at 60mph, to travel the length of five football pitches.

The carmaker’s research was undertaken for its national free driver training programme, Driving Skills for Life, which has been launched to provide hands-on training to more than 5,000 18-24-year-olds and online training for thousands more and is now being expanded across the UK (https://forddsfl.co.uk). The updated training programme will highlight the dangers of taking a "selfie" and other smartphone and social media activities behind the wheel.

‘Taking a “selfie” has for many young people quickly become an integral part of everyday life – but it's the last thing you should be doing behind the wheel of a car,’ said Jim Graham, Ford Driving Skills for Life manager. ‘It is deeply worrying that so many young drivers admit to taking a photo while driving and we will be doing all we can to highlight the potential dangers through driver education.’