Driving & Alcohol/Drug Use

Drink-driving currently accounts for roughly eighteen percent of all road deaths in the UK. Drink-driving is defined as driving while over the legal limit for alcohol. In the past, driving home from a pub after an evening of drinking was a frequent occurrence in the UK. This has meant that many people do not realise the effect that drinking alcohol has on their driving ability. The fact is that any amount of alcohol will affect your ability to drive carefully, and the only guaranteed way of making sure that you stay under the legal limit is to avoid drinking any alcoholic drink if you know you will drive afterwards.

Drink-Driving Conviction

It is very difficult for anybody with a drink-driving conviction to obtain car insurance; if they do, premiums tend to be extremely high. In fact, some insurers will stipulate that if you have a drink-driving offence you are not entitled to fully comprehensive insurance: you must take a lower level of cover, such as third party only. These limitations may be imposed for quite a few years after your conviction.

If you are already with an insurer and they 'discover' your drink driving conviction, not only could they decide to increase premiums, but some may refuse to renew your cover. Premiums for convicted drink-drivers can be so high that the cost of driving may no longer be affordable, as is often the case for young drivers. Although these implications are likely to be reduced once a good, safe driving record is re-established, this will take some time.

If you are convicted of drink driving:

• You could be imprisoned for a maximum of six months and/or fined up to £5,000. You also face a minimum of twelve months driving ban.
• A convicted driver will have the offence on their driving licence for eleven years.

Causing a death by careless driving when under the influence of drink or drugs carries a maximum penalty of fourteen years in prison, a minimum of two years driving ban and the need for you to pass an extended driving test before you are able to legally drive again.

Some insurers recognise Drink-Driving Rehabilitation courses and may reduce their quote accordingly if you complete one after receiving a drink driving conviction. For details see:

• The Facts
• Drink-Driving Rehabilitation