insurethebox urges young drivers to ‘Go Sober for October’ – and the rest of the year – when they get behind the wheel
Data from insurethebox, the global pioneer of telematics based car insurance, is providing a timely reminder for young drivers that it is never a good idea to drink and drive. As the annual abstinence month – Go Sober for October – kicks off, insurethebox data shows that young drivers are 6.51 times more at risk of an accident as a result of drink driving than someone in their 40s. And it’s not just about leaving the car behind on a night out – statistics show that the majority of drink driving penalties happen the morning after.
Simon Rewell, Road Safety Manager at insurethebox, commented: “Reducing road deaths and reducing drink driving are intrinsically linked. We know that telematics has the ability to change driver behaviour, and therefore has a powerful role to play in helping save lives. We also know that male drivers are most at risk of getting behind the wheel after having a drink2, although females are also at risk.”
The majority of drink drive penalties happen in the early hours of Saturdays and Sundays, times that are proven to be the most dangerous for young drivers even before adding the judgment impairing effects of alcohol. Analysis of insurethebox claims data shows accident risk increases three-fold at night for the under 25s compared to an increase of 50% for over 25s – the extra experience of older drivers leaves them far better equipped for the challenges of driving in the dark.
If alcohol is involved, the youngest drivers see their accident risk rocket. When young people take to the roads after even just one drink they are putting themselves, their friends and other road users in potentially grave danger.
Simon Rewell added: “Drink driving is just not worth the risk. As well as significantly increasing the possibility of an accident, the impact of being found guilty of drink driving could include imprisonment, a fine of up to £2,500, a driving ban, and an increased insurance premium when the driver does get back on the road. It could also jeopardise an individual’s job if they drive for work.”
insurethebox improves driving safety among young motorists by proactively communicating with its customers, using telematics to empower young drivers to better manage their driving habits in order to reduce their insurance risk profile – and therefore their premiums. In this way, insurethebox helps young motorists make positive changes to their driving behaviour, such as reducing their speed or choosing not to drive if they’re not fit to be behind the wheel.
[1] Comparing overall accident frequency by age band of insurethebox customers with drink drive accident frequency from 2016 Stats 19 data RAS51010
[2] https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/ 732650/drink-drive-final-estimates-2016.pdf