Have You Been Convicted of Drink Driving? Here’s What You Need to Know
Drink driving convictions are something we all try to avoid, which is understandable given the stigma attached and the possible damage it can cause. There are also the ramifications of such a conviction, though these aren’t as well known. If you’ve been convicted for drink driving, it will impact your life in a variety of ways, and the impact can last well beyond the time your driving privileges are restored. This is why you need to understand how the conviction will affect your life from now on, and the influence it will have on your everyday decisions. Here’s what you need to know.
The Limits
The limit at which you’re considered guilty of drink driving varies across the UK. For example, the blood alcohol content that gets you a drink driving conviction in Scotland is two-thirds the level of the rest of the UK. Their limit was reduced to 50 milligrams per 100 millilitres of blood in 2014, while it is 80 in England and Wales.
The Penalties
British drink driving laws outline many possible offences and nearly as many penalties for them. Refusing to provide a sample when commanded is a minor crime, and causing a deadly accident is the most severe. However, all of these offences come with possible fines and prison sentences. The maximum fine is £2,500.
The Options for Reducing the Penalties for Drink Driving
You may be able to shorten the amount of time you’re banned from driving if you enrol on a drink driving rehabilitation course. Note that you must have been offered the option of taking such a course. The cost of such courses can reach £250. Taking a course like this won’t result in lower car insurance premiums directly, but the length of the ban is a factor in the car insurance quotes you receive.
How It Affects Your Car Insurance
If you’ve been convicted for drink driving, you need to start looking for DR10 insurance. Sites like quotezone.co.uk will allow you to compare DR10 insurance and find the lowest rate for this relatively expensive type of car insurance. Their independent service lets you request quotes from multiple insurance providers with a single form, and you can choose which insurer you want to do business with. They will simplify the process by helping you find the DR10 insurance policies tailored for your current situation.
Know, however, that you may find it impossible to find cover at all. This is especially true for repeat offenders. Start researching your options before your car insurance comes up for renewal so you can afford to keep the coverage you have in place.
The Need for Prevention
You could end up drinking and driving when you weren’t planning on it. Your blood alcohol level is affected by everything from your weight to the type of alcohol consumed to the food you’ve eaten that day.
Instead of pushing your limits, consider spending the night where you are, calling a taxi, or asking for a designated driver to take you home. Also, know that a late night of drinking will still have an effect in the morning, especially if you get up early. If you need to get up early in the morning, either drink less or find another way to get to school or work in the morning.
Drink driving is the leading cause of deadly traffic accidents. This is why our system seeks to deter it. Understand the rules and penalties involved, so that you’re less likely to drink and drive. This knowledge can also make life more bearable if you are found guilty.
