New research on behalf of car insurance experts at Confused.com has revealed that 51% of drivers do not know the legal alcohol limit. Confused.com also found that 31% of drivers are unaware that other factors such as weight, stress levels, gender, whether you have eaten recently and age means alcohol can affect individuals differently.
Tragically, 250 people were killed and 1,230 were seriously injured on British roads in 2010 by drivers over the drink drive limit. The truth is, 51% of drivers don’t know what the UK legal drink drive limit equates to in terms of alcoholic beverage and quantity.
Rebecca Clough, Head of Campaigns and Communication at alcohol education charity Drinkaware, says: “Even small amounts of alcohol can affect your ability to drive. So the only safe advice is to avoid drinking if you are driving. If you are planning to drink when you go out, make alternative arrangements like choosing a ‘designated driver’ from your group of friends, plan your journey home by public transport or use a licensed taxi. For the facts about alcohol and driving, visit drinkaware.co.uk”
In fact 13% of people have admitted to feeling tipsy when driving and 20% of people would be willing to chance drink driving.
Shockingly 44% of people know someone who has been caught drink driving. 5% of drivers polled have themselves been caught drink driving and men have been caught more frequently than women.
In addition to the devastating consequences drink driving can have, Confused.com has revealed that a conviction adds up to 42% on a car insurance premium in the first year. Over five years it could cost an extra £ £948.86 in premiums.
Gareth Kloet, Head of Car Insurance says “My advice is to not drink at all if driving. Without taking into account the devastating toll paid in terms of injury, death, a driving ban or prison time, a drink-driving offence can cause a driver’s premium to increase or prevent them from being able to obtain insurance at all. There is no fool proof way of drinking and staying under the limit. The drink driving limit could be deemed as a myth because alcohol affects everyone very differently.”
“If you do decide to drink and drive you are risking your life as well as others. Research shows that even very small amounts of alcohol significantly increase reaction times and therefore your risk of crashing [3]. Take the safe option and either not drink or leave the car at home.”
Confused.com is reminding drivers a conviction for drink driving also means:
– The cost of your car insurance will increase significantly
– If you drive for work, your employer will see your conviction when you have to produce your licence
– You may have trouble getting permission to travel into countries like the USA.
Source : Confused.com
