(PRWEB UK) 17 December 2012
As Christmas rapidly approaches the police are stepping up their efforts to warn motorists not to get carried away with the festivities, not only on nights out but also to consider the effects of a night out the following morning. Figures from this years THINK! campaign revealed that in 2011, 280 motorists died due to drink driving. In addition more motorists failed breath tests in the morning between 6am to 11am than between 11pm and 1am during the Christmas period.
The THINK! campaign will be targeted at drivers between the ages of 20 and 24 as motorists in these age ranges failed more breath tests than any other age group in 2011. A drink driving conviction can result in job loss, strain on personal relationships, a minimum of a 12 month driving ban, a criminal record and hefty fines as well as higher car insurance costs after the ban ends.
To illustrate the effect on car insurance costs that a drink driving conviction can have Tiger.co.uk has analysed some car insurance quotes with and without a drink driving conviction.
The driver profile used was a 23 year old male, living in Ipswich and driving a 2000 Ford Focus.
The results show that a drink driving conviction has a massive effect on car insurance premiums, with the average of the top three prices returned increasing by 269%. Severe punishments, inflated insurance costs, a clamp down from the police and a revamped drink driving campaign from THINK! should together create a very clear message not to drink and drive and to remember that the effects of a nights drinking can still be felt the following morning.
Deputy Chief Constable Suzette Davenport commented:Drivers need to be aware that regardless of the time of day they are caught, whether they are going to work or taking children to school, they will face the same penalties as someone who has chosen to drink heavily in a pub and driven at night,
Andrew Goulborn, Commercial Director at Tiger.co.uk, added:The best way to ensure that you dont run the risk of being over the limit is to not drink and drive at all. Everyone has different tolerances to alcohol. One driver may be under the limit the morning after and others may still be over. If you plan to go out drinking then arrange to travel home with a designated driver, taxi or public transport and give consideration to the morning after too. The increased cost of car insurance quotes is significant with a drink driving conviction, but more importantly, we need to lower the number of motorists killed in the UK as a result of drink driving.