uSwitch.com comment on the call for a zero tolerance alcohol limit for young drivers

Ashton Berkhauer, insurance expert at uSwitch.com, comments on Chief Medical Officer Professor Sir Liam Donaldaldson's call for a zero tolerance alcohol limit for young drivers:

"We welcome any initiative that attempts to reduce accidents.

However, does the zero tolerance alcohol limit for the under 21's go far enough? Teenage drink drivers are responsible for 100 fatalities a year, and 1,000 accidents.

Although this is extremely serious, it represents just 4% of the total 2,703 fatalities.

"We can't ignore the fact that the under 21's (accounting for 3% of the driving population) are responsible for 12% of all drink and drug driving convictions.

Although this move would change attitudes towards drinking, there is still more that can be done to prevent accidents such as increasing the age of young drivers and doing more to build up their experience before letting them drive by themselves.

"Without question, the most serious cost to drink-driving is the loss of life.

However, there are also financial implications which may act as a sobering deterrent.

The 1,000 teenage drink drivers alone, currently cost the insurance industry over ?1.9 million a year in claims.

In addition, the offenders will find that a drink driving conviction increases their car insurance premium by as much as 101% (?1,237).

This is enough to price some younger drivers off the road.

"Insurers pay out over ?23 million a day in claims - almost ?1 million an hour - any move to reduce accidents will have a knock-on impact and an initiative like this may well lead to cheaper car insurance premiums for all.".

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