Car insurance news
11/01/2012
Car insurance rates affected by lack of knowledge on drink driving
A car insurance company has revealed some statistics which could not only be extremely detrimental for car insurance rates but also hazardous for road users' safety.
It has been revealed that 51% of drivers are unaware of the legal driving alcohol limit, as well as 31% being unaware that factors such as weight, gender, and stress all play a part in how a person is affected by alcohol too.
In 2010, 250 people were killed while a further 1,230 were left seriously injured due to drivers who had too much to drink before getting behind the wheel of a vehicle.
Furthermore, 44% of the motorists polled said that they knew another person who has previously been caught while drunk driving, and 5% have been caught drunk driving themselves with men being more reckless than women on average.
With car insurance rates constantly increasing, drivers could find themselves in serious financial trouble in the New Year if they have been found to be drinking alcohol before driving. A conviction can add up to 42% on the price of an annual premium in the first year following the crime.
It is widely known that having too many drinks before driving can make car insurance increase in price, yet 13% of people admit to having driven a car when feeling tipsy and 20% are willing to chance drunk driving.
In a bid to avoid this reckless behaviour the insurance provider has encouraged road users to make use of a drink driving calculator tool and be aware of the legal limit.