None for the road, mate…
The UK’s largest independent road safety charity, IAM RoadSmart*, today warned motorists of the severe financial penalty they could face as the consequence of a drinking and driving conviction.
The charity has calculated that the personal financial cost of drink driving could be as high as £70,000 ($93,715) or more when considering fines, legal fees, higher car insurance premiums, alternative transport costs and potential loss of earnings following conviction.
IAM RoadSmart’s research team found that costs following a “drink drive conviction” now include: fines of £5,000, although since these are now unlimited this could be much more; legal fees of £11,000 which is the average following conviction after a not-guilty plea; increased insurance premiums of £13,500 over five years after a driving disqualification; £2,000 for taxi and public transport costs for alternative transport during a ban; and £38,500 loss of earnings for 15 months following a conviction, based on an average UK salary.
Neil Greig, IAM RoadSmart Director of Policy & Research, said: “In the run up to Christmas this year, many people’s drinking habits will have changed because of the coronavirus. So, whether you’re raising a glass for the festive season at home or, where you’re able, in a restaurant or pub, it’s important to remember that an extra drink comes with a huge hidden cost if it pushes you over the limit.”
Roads Minister, Baroness Vere, said: “Drink driving kills, so during the festive season don’t be tempted to have a drink before getting behind the wheel – it’s irresponsible and incredibly dangerous. We are working tirelessly, through schemes like our award-winning THINK! campaign, to tackle attitudes and behaviors that could lead to people drink driving, and we continue to invest in policing and enforcement on our roads.” (www.think.gov.uk)
Cost Breakdown
- £5,000 fine – fines are unlimited
- £11,000 legal fees – based on an average online survey from lawyers specializing in not-guilty drink drive convictions
- £13,500 – Increased insurance premiums over five years after a drink drive disqualification based on average annual increase of £2,713 from eight providers from specialist broker Got You Covered Ltd
- £2,000 – the use of taxis and public transport during a 15-month ban
- £38,500 – loss of earnings over a 15-month ban based on data from the Office for National Statistics
* IAM RoadSmart is the trading name of businesses operated by the UK’s largest road safety charity, the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) and was formed in April 2016 combining the IAM, IAM Drive & Survive, PDS and IAM Driver Retraining Academy. The organization has ~85,000 members and campaigns on road safety on their behalf. At any one time there are more than 7,000 drivers and riders actively engaged with IAM RoadSmart’s courses, from members of the public to company drivers. The Driver Retraining Academy has helped 2,500 drivers to shorten their bans through education and support programs.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
A £70,000 Drink? Warns RoadSmart Charity
None for the road, mate…
The UK’s largest independent road safety charity, IAM RoadSmart*, today warned motorists of the severe financial penalty they could face as the consequence of a drinking and driving conviction.
The charity has calculated that the personal financial cost of drink driving could be as high as £70,000 ($93,715) or more when considering fines, legal fees, higher car insurance premiums, alternative transport costs and potential loss of earnings following conviction.
IAM RoadSmart’s research team found that costs following a “drink drive conviction” now include: fines of £5,000, although since these are now unlimited this could be much more; legal fees of £11,000 which is the average following conviction after a not-guilty plea; increased insurance premiums of £13,500 over five years after a driving disqualification; £2,000 for taxi and public transport costs for alternative transport during a ban; and £38,500 loss of earnings for 15 months following a conviction, based on an average UK salary.
Neil Greig, IAM RoadSmart Director of Policy & Research, said: “In the run up to Christmas this year, many people’s drinking habits will have changed because of the coronavirus. So, whether you’re raising a glass for the festive season at home or, where you’re able, in a restaurant or pub, it’s important to remember that an extra drink comes with a huge hidden cost if it pushes you over the limit.”
Roads Minister, Baroness Vere, said: “Drink driving kills, so during the festive season don’t be tempted to have a drink before getting behind the wheel – it’s irresponsible and incredibly dangerous. We are working tirelessly, through schemes like our award-winning THINK! campaign, to tackle attitudes and behaviors that could lead to people drink driving, and we continue to invest in policing and enforcement on our roads.” (www.think.gov.uk)
Cost Breakdown
* IAM RoadSmart is the trading name of businesses operated by the UK’s largest road safety charity, the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) and was formed in April 2016 combining the IAM, IAM Drive & Survive, PDS and IAM Driver Retraining Academy. The organization has ~85,000 members and campaigns on road safety on their behalf. At any one time there are more than 7,000 drivers and riders actively engaged with IAM RoadSmart’s courses, from members of the public to company drivers. The Driver Retraining Academy has helped 2,500 drivers to shorten their bans through education and support programs.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn. He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe. Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap. AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks. Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.