Police forces across the UK are reporting an increasing number of drink-driving offences being committed by \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcelderly\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 motorists it has been revealed.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
In 2012 police reported that at least 232 motorists over the age of 75 had been caught driving whilst over the legal alcohol limit, one of which included a 93-year-old driver stopped in Devon.<\/p>\n
According to car insurance company Swiftcover.com, the number of over-75s committing drink-drive offences has increased by 20% since 2010.<\/p>\n
Swiftcover\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s figures followed data from 42 of the 52 UK police forces requested under the Freedom of Information Act.<\/p>\n
Research shows that 15% of all drink-driving offences were committed by over-50s, however, that proportion reached as high as 54% in Lancashire and as low as 2% in London.<\/p>\n
Southern areas of the UK were identified as the worst locations for older drivers committing drink-driving offences, with southwest England having the most number of offenders over the age of 75.<\/p>\n
The research also highlighted that outside London, the fewest incidents of drink-driving among older motorists occurred in northeast England and Yorkshire.<\/p>\n
Police forces were also questioned on how many motorists had been caught driving over the legal alcohol limit during the years 2010, 2011 and 2012.<\/p>\n
They were also asked to provide answers to the number of motorists, within the years specified, that were aged 50 or over. Offenders were categorised across five-year brackets ranging from 50 to over 90.<\/p>\n
The underwriting manager for Swiftcover.com, Roman Bryl, said: \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Drink-driving is unacceptable at any age. Whilst great strides have been made to tackle this in younger people, the number of motorists drink-driving from the older generations is still worryingly high.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
He concluded by saying: \u00e2\u20ac\u0153An increase in driving under the influence among the elderly is a shocking and deeply concerning trend as far too many casualties and fatalities occur as a result of this.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
The increase in the number of drink-driving offences committed by senior motorists has been greeted with disdain by a number of insurance companies who claim that it sets the wrong precedent for younger drivers.<\/p>\n
Quoting anonymously, one insurance company said: \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Imagine the impression it creates on a young driver if one of these senior drink-driving offenders happens to be their grandma or granddad. Youngsters look up to their grandparents as role-models and many would not imagine them to be rampaging drunk-drivers.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
The insurance company added: \u00e2\u20ac\u0153It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s difficult enough with young drivers involved in road accidents as a result of alcohol. It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s not something we would expect to be increasing among age groups considered to be more responsible.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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