Drink driving should not just be associated with the festive season warns uSwitch.com. Analysis of road traffic accidents reveals a 4% rise in drink driving casualties in August compared to December.
New research from uSwitch.com reveals the summer can bring out reckless behaviour amongst British motorists. 14% (5.6million) get behind the wheel after drinking alcohol, despite feeling uncertain about whether they are safe to do so. On top of this, 1 in 5 drivers say they feel more tempted to drive fast in the summer months, with 7% (2.8 million) admitting to breaking the speed limit.
500,000 drivers are stopped and breathalysed every year, 20% of these are found to be over the legal limit and prosecuted. Convicted drivers can expect their car insurance premiums to rocket by an average of 63% (£334.06).
Young male drivers can expect to pay the highest penalty, with insurance premiums increasing by 101% (£1,236.76) on average.
There are around 600,000 drivers with drink-driving convictions in the UK with Bristol (4,858) having the highest number of drivers with endorsements on their policies.
A conviction will stay on your licence for over a decade. Any amount of alcohol impairs your driving, slowing reaction times and leaving you more at risk of being involved in some kind of accident, so the safest and most sensible answer is simply not to drink and drive.