THEY have become the tools of modern life but our devotion to smartphones and other such devices has led an estimated 20 million commuters to forget to get off at their bus or train stop.

Such is this "digital distraction" that half of Britons have overshot their destination, with around 15% of travellers late for meetings as a result.

Over the last year, passengers have missed their stops an estimated 29 million times, a report showed.

Activity on social media is the top culprit for such distractions, with 35% saying this – and internet surfing in general – had them so engrossed that they missed their stop.

Of those caught in the smartphone trap, 16% said they failed to catch a bus, 13% missed a train – and one in 20 even missed a plane.

The findings were revealed in the Mobile Life report by O2 and Samsung, which was compiled to assess the impact of mobile phones.

David Johnson, of O2, said "The increasing depth and sophistication of the entertainment we can get on them means consumers may need a little extra push to help their day run smoothly."