Drink driving still a big problem in the UK
Despite campaigns leading up to Christmas and the notorious party season, drink driving is still on the increase indicating the end of the downturn in this anti social phenomenon. In previous years the number of people drink driving has fallen but in 2005 the figure rose to a staggering 9,275 people arrested for drink driving and 178 people were arrested for drug driving.
The RAC Foundation has now launched a campaign to tackle this dangerous problem. The aim is to reduce the amount of deaths and serious injury caused by people who choose to endanger themselves and others for the sake of a drink. In 2004, 590 people were killed because of drink or drug driving. In 2003 there were ten less deaths resulting from this behaviour.
Many people believe that they can get away with drink driving because they do not regularly see traffic police patrolling the roads. High risk groups and offender should also be targeted by police and rapid response needs to be a priority when aiming to catch drink or drug drivers.
Reports from Scotland have shown that the number of women drink drivers is up by 43% over the last five years. Many drivers are turning a blind eye to drink driving amongst friends and family and are somehow under the misapprehension that they will get away with a relaxed attitude to getting behind the wheel after a drink.
It may be that drink drivers believe that the only punishment they will receive for drink driving is higher car insurance rates. They may believe that the penalties are similar to those meted out to people caught speeding. The penalties for drink driving are as follows:
- Failing to provide a roadside breath test (Code DR70)
- Penalty - Fine - up to Level 3 (£1,000)4 penalty points on your licence
- Disqualification is at the discretion of the Court
- Driving/Attempting to Drive with excess alcohol (DR10)
- Penalty - Fine - up to Level 5 (£5,000) and/or up to 6 months imprisonment
- Mandatory disqualification for at least 12 months for first offence
- Mandatory disqualification for at least 3 years for second offence within 10 years.
- Being in charge of a motor vehicle with excess alcohol (DR40)
- Penalty - Fine - up to Level 4 (£2,500) and/or up to 3 months imprisonment
- 10 penalty points on your licence
- Disqualification is at the discretion of the Court
- After Driving/Attempting to drive refusing to provide samples for analysis (DR30)
- Penalty - Fine - up to Level 5 (£5,000) and/or 6 months imprisonment
- Mandatory disqualification for at least 12 months for first offence (18 months tends to be the norm as you are considered to have been trying to avoid being found guilty)
- Mandatory disqualification for at least 3 years for second offence within 10 years
- After being in charge refusing to provide samples for analysis (DR60)
- Penalty - Fine - Level 4 (£2,500) and/or 3 months imprisonment
- 10 penalty points on your licence
- Disqualification is at the discretion of the Court
Fortunately the majority of people believe that drink driving is wrong and understand the implications of being caught and understand the devastation that an accident can cause. There are millions of honest law abiding drivers on the UK ’s roads, many of whom are our customers. As a woman, car insurance should cost you less as you are less likely to make a high value car insurance claim than a man.
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