30 May 2007
Figures from Leicestershire Police Force have shown that the number of drink-drivers aged between 17 and 29 is on the increase - a trend which the police claim is sweeping across the UK.
Over the Christmas period alone, over half of those caught in Leicestershire drink-driving were found to be under 30 years old.
While the Home Office has refused to comment on these figures and insists that its own will arrive in due course, Leicestershire Constabulary insisted to the BBC that this was not just a local problem.
"There is evidence the trend we have seen is being repeated across the country," a spokeswoman for Leicestershire Police said. This is supported by figures released by Scotland Yard, which showed that a quarter of drink-driving arrests were found to be men aged 17-24 years old.
The Department of Transport has stated that it will begin a campaign this summer to crackdown on the amount of drink-drivers on Britain's roads, including a number of adverts aimed specifically at men under the age of 29.
Aron Thompson, Head of Insurance at independent price comparison and switching service uSwitch.com, said that drink-driving not only put people's lives at risk but also had serious implications on the young drivers' insurance market.
"The figures released today by Scotland Yardwill be a major issue for those that are prosecuted when they try to renew their car insurance. Recent research from uSwitch.com revealed that young drivers typically pay 948 for car insurance which is already more than double the average UK premium of 409.
"Given how expensive insurance is for this group, to risk increasing this by anything up to another 55% due to a conviction could become an unmanageable financial burden in the future."
Mr Thompson concluded by saying that the penalties for being even slightly over the limit should be harsher to drive home the message that driving under the influence was entirely unacceptable.
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