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Older drink drivers on the increase

The equivalent of one person over the age of 50 was charged with drink driving every hour in 2012, according to new research by car insurer swiftcover.com. The study reveals that there has also been a 20% increase in drink driving amongst the over 80s since 2010.

The research was carried out by means of a Freedom of Information Act request to all of the UK’s police forces. It reveals a 15% drop in overall drink driving rates, but warns that the number of older motorists being caught drink driving is not falling.

The numbers have remained steady since 2010, and in 2012 accounted for 18% of all drink driving offenders.

Area-wise, in 2012 Strathclyde was the worst for drink drivers over the age of 50 – 1,469 offenders were caught here. Second and third spots went to Greater Manchester (1,452) and Hampshire (1,294) respectively.

Looking at the over 80’s, there has been a 20% increase in the numbers caught drink driving since 2010. According to swiftcover, police forces found 232 over 80’s driving over the legal limit in 2012 – including a 93-year-old caught in Devon.

Hampshire police caught the greatest number of drink driving over 80’s (46), followed by Thames Valley (30) and Humberside (27).

The majority of over 80-year-olds will have first begun to drive in the 1950’s, but a legal alcohol limit was not introduced to the UK until 1967. Over 50-year-olds will have typically learnt to drive in 1979, when drink driving offences were 540% higher than they are today.

Contact our Criminal Solicitors in Fife

If you require specialist criminal defence advice on this or any other matter, give us a call on 01383 730466 (Dunfermline) or 01592 640680 (Kirkcaldy) or contact us online here.

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