New research has revealed the 10 worst UK locations for drink and drug driving offenses, with the City of Hereford at the top of the list, having more drivers with these offenses on their records, than any other area of England and Wales. (*Source: Annual research conducted by comparison site MoneySupermarket, November 2019). Analysis of 6m car insurance quotes revealed Hereford is the drink and drug drive capital of the UK for a second consecutive year, with a total of 1.8 in 1,000 motorists in the HR postcode, having been prosecuted after being caught with illegal levels of alcohol, or drugs in their system while at the wheel.
In second worst place is Darlington (2) followed by Llandudno (3), Liverpool (4), Blackpool (5), Newport (6), Crewe (7), Cardiff (8), Chester (9) and Telford (10).
In spite of the Government’s effort to persuade motorists not to drink and/or take drugs and drive, it appears the problem is getting worse. The latest figures from the Department of Transport show that the number of people killed in drink-drive crashes on Britain’s roads has reached an eight-year high. There were between 230 and 270 fatalities in accidents where at least one driver or rider was over the alcohol limit in 2017. The median figure of 250 is the highest since 2009.
Michael Foote, Managing Director of Quote Goat commented: “The figures are shockingly high and clearly, the Government’s education campaigns are not getting the cut-through required to halt the increase in drink and drug driving. Recent research by the road safety charity Brake found that more than 5,000 motorists had been caught drink-driving on two or more occasions in the past four years.
“There urgently needs to be a review of the Government’s drink driving policy and more collaboration with organisations that represent UK motorists.
“Driving under the influence is simply not worth it and I’d plead with anybody considering it to take the time to look at the wide-ranging potential consequences from losing your license & job through to the tragic loss of lives of friends, family & others on the road.”
