Drink driving towards higher insurance premiums

With the British summer having finally arrived, many Brits will be firing up their barbeques and enjoying the warmer weather with a glass or two, but being caught over the limit behind the wheel could significantly increase the cost of car insurance premiums, let alone put yours and others' safety at risk warns MoneySupermarket.
 
Research by the UK comparison site reveals that having a drink driving conviction (DR10 penalty) on your licence could mean a staggering 121 per cent hike to the cost of annual  car insurance for a 50 year old driver, increasing from £181 to £399. The increase varies across the different ages with drivers in their sixties being hit by average increases of £187, seeing premiums increase from £173 to £360 a year. Younger drivers can expect to see a whopping £370 added to their premiums, with cover increasing in price from £705 a year to £1,075 - a rise of 53 per cent.
 
Peter Harrison, car insurance expert at MoneySupermarket, said: "With the hot summer weather, many will be dusting off the barbeque and pouring the Pimms. If you are intending to enjoy a glass or two, it is essential to have travel arrangements and not getting behind the wheel yourself. It is also worth remembering that alcohol may still be in your system the following day, with many convictions occurring the morning after the night before. Driving under the influence of alcohol should not be considered under any circumstances, as it not only risks your own safety but that of passengers, other motorists, and pedestrians.
 
"Taking the risk by drink driving can have dire consequences; it could lead to a hefty points conviction, a fine of up to £5,000, a 12 month driving ban and even a prison sentence. This will not only make it difficult to find an insurance provider willing to offer cover in the future, but as our research has showed, the cost of premiums will increase substantially.
 
"It is important to remember that each person reacts differently to alcohol consumption as there are many different factors that come in play, such as gender, age, weight, and metabolism. Therefore, trying to second guess if you are under the limit or not is still a risk not worth taking. Reaction times can be considerably slower, and coordination and judgement can become impaired so my advice for those planning on driving is to stick to soft drinks."