Drink driving limit myths exposed by Confused.com
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New research from confused.com has revealed that 51% of drivers don’t know the legal alcohol limit. The research also shows that 31% of the drivers were unaware that there are other factors involved such as gender, weight, stress levels, if they have eaten recently and even their age can make the alcohol have different effects on individuals.
It is a tragic statistic that 1230 people were seriously injured and 250 were killed on the roads of Britain by drivers over the legal alcohol limit in 2010. The findings are disturbing, however, that just over half of the drivers questioned didn’t know what the legal drink drive limit equated to in terms of type of alcoholic beverage and also quantity.
Rebecca Clough, head of campaigns and communication at alcohol education charity Drinkaware, said: “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.”
The research also showed that 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.
Gareth Kloet, Confused.com’s 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. Take the safe option and either don’t 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. To help know your limits whilst driving, the company is encouraging drivers to use their drink driving calculator tool.
