Police officers have arrested hundreds of motorists during a drink and drug-driving crackdown, including one driver who was allegedly more than three times over the limit.
Surrey Police arrested more than 200 drivers on suspicion of drink or drug-related offences during December, as part of a national campaign dubbed Operation Limit.
One driver, who was stopped on the A3, is reported to have blown 119 on a roadside breath test - which is three times over the legal limit.from causing harm to themselves and others.
This campaign, which spanned from December 1 to January 1, saw a total of 208 arrests made by officers in Surrey, marking a 43 per cent increase over the previous year's 145 arrests.
Officers also made more than 5,000 vehicle checks during this period, serving as a deterrent for potential lawbreakers and generating awareness of the hazards associated with driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
More than 50 collisions were reported during the campaign, highlighting the risks posed by drink and drug driving.
Chief Constable Tim De Meyer said: "Our campaign highlighted the dangers of drink-driving as well as the very easy steps people can take to prevent it from happening."
Suggestions included pre-booking taxis, opting to walk or designating a sober driver.
Chief Constable De Meyer said: "We are pleased that the public have shown support for our campaign, including where they have reported intoxicated drivers to us to help prevent a tragic collision.
"The increase in arrests also demonstrates the determination of our officers to catch offenders and ensure our roads are safer."
Rachel Glenton, Surrey and Sussex Police's Head of Roads Policing Superintendent, added: "Officers across the force took part in this year’s campaign, and our officers continue to patrol the roads 24/7, every day of the year, to prevent offenders
"But hundreds of motorists still took the selfish decision to drive or use a vehicle after they had consumed alcohol or taken drugs."
Consequences for those found guilty of drink or drug-driving are severe, with the potential for a 12-month driving ban, unlimited fines, imprisonment, a criminal record that impacts employability, and elevated car insurance costs.
There is also the risk of causing serious injury to yourself or other. Surrey's Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend condemned drink or drug-driving as "appallingly selfish acts that can, and do, kill".
She added: "The results of Operation Limit show just how seriously our officers take offending like this, and I'm very proud of the work that has been done to stamp out drink and drug driving."
Statistics from Surry Police showed that there were 526 drug wipe tests carried out, with 120 returning positive, and 2,746 breath tests conducted, with 78 that were positive, refused or failed to provide.
https://www.surreycomet.co.uk/news/24052339.a3-driver-caught-surrey-police-drink-driving-crackdown/
Statistics from Surry Police showed that there were 526 drug wipe tests carried out, with 120 returning positive, and 2,746 breath tests conducted, with 78 that were positive, refused or failed to provide.
QUOTE: "But hundreds of motorists still took the selfish decision to drive or use a vehicle after they had consumed alcohol or taken drugs." ENDS
But you are under the impression that these selfish gits actually CARE about killing innocent people through their selfish behaviour - they don't.
On Wednesday, January 17, 2024 at 2:27:32 PM UTC, Simon Mason wrote:
QUOTE:More than 50 collisions were reported during the campaign, highlighting the risks posed by drink and drug driving.ENDS
FIFTY collisions in a month?
No wonder insurance premium have sky rocketed.
Lots of lost NCB rates for the perps too.
UK car insurance costs increased the highest amount on record last year, according to a closely watched index.
The average quoted price to insure a car jumped by 67.2 per cent in the year to November, beating a previous record of 61 per cent over the twelve months to August.
London remained the most costly place for a premium with a huge jump of 76.9 per cent, followed by the West Midlands and Scotland, which both increased 69.4 per cent.
Nearly a quarter of drivers received a quote of £500 and £749 to cover their car in November.
Payouts for claims reached a record £2.54bn in the third quarter of the year, partly influenced by Storm Babet.
“Record payouts for claims are having an impact on quoted premiums and there is evidence that in
certain areas such as Scotland and the East Midlands recent storms have had an impact on
premiums,” Max Thompson, insurance insight manager at Consumer Intelligence, said.
“During the last quarter small increases in telematics competitiveness were observed across all the
age groups of one to two per cent. However, motorists across all age groups and all over the country
are seeing major increases in quoted premiums,” he added.
Young drivers have been hit hardest by the highest car insurance costs on record, with some facing premiums of nearly £3,000, according to data.
Confused.com, the price comparison firm, said on average 17-20-year-olds had seen insurance rise by more than £1,000 from the same time last year.
Overall, on average drivers face paying 58% more on car insurance compared with last January.
Confused.com blamed a post-Covid increase in claims and higher costs.computer chips and other materials needed manufacturing.
Steve Dukes, chief executive of Confused.com, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "The frequency in claims is up in the last couple of years, since the pandemic, but also the cost of them.
"The cost of second-hand cars is higher than they used to be, the cost of parts, the cost of labour to make repairs - and that's all being passed onto consumers."
Prices for second-hand cars - the usual first vehicle for a newly-qualified young driver - have been volatile since a few months into the Covid pandemic. Demand for used cars spiked as production of new vehicles fell because of a global shortage of
In March 2022, prices increases in the used car market peaked at 31%, according to the Office for National Statistics. They have since fallen back sharply.hundreds of pounds, that's really worth looking at," he said.
Line chart showing the average price of second-hand cars has fallen by 8.4% in the year to December 2023.
However, Confused.com said it was a "really tough time" for motorists. Average price rises for car insurance across all drivers rose by £366 to £995.
But younger drivers faced the sharpest jump. For 17-year-olds, premiums surged by an average £1,423, to £2,877. For 18-year-old drivers, the average policy price reached £3,162.
The data is calculated on an average of the best five quotes received on Confused.com, rather than prices actually paid for policies.
Line chart showing the price of car insurance by age. For young people, costs have increased dramatically since 2022.
Mr Dukes said there are ways to reduce premiums. "Where they can legitimately share the driving with an older driver with more experience and add that person as a named driver, that can have a really significant effect and bring the price down by
Mr Dukes also suggested younger motorists explore the use of telematics, or "pay how you drive" insurance, where their behaviour on the road is shared with the underlying insurance provider or occasional drivers insurance.
But he said with the price rises for 17-20-year-olds many young drivers would be looking at whether they can afford to drive at all.
"The industry has to be careful not to push younger drivers into other modes of transport and that's a real risk when prices get this high," he said.
The Association of British Insurers (ABI) said while car insurance could be expensive there were ways to bring costs down.
It added that it was important that motorists never drove without cover and urged anyone struggling with costs to speak to their insurers.
However, the ABI said insurance is always based on risk and its data showed the average cost and frequency of claims is higher for younger drivers, which can impact premiums.
According to the ABI's own analysis of 28 million policies, drivers' insurance costs rose between July and September by an average £561, up 29% compared with the same time in 2022.
The association said the figures were based on the price customers paid for their cover rather than what they were quoted.
The average cost of car insurance in the UK has hit a record high of nearly £1,000 after premiums skyrocketed by 58 per cent in a year, analysis suggests.
The price of insuring a car has soared on average by £338 over the past 12 months to hit £924, according to the Confused.com price index, which the comparison site says is based on more than six million quotes each quarter.
The Independent revealed in August that motor insurance was fast becoming one of the most expensive household bills, adding more financial pain at a time of high inflation and surging housing costs.
Exclusive data from analyst Consumer Intelligence had revealed that premiums rose by 48 per cent in the year to June to hit their highest since 2018, as tens of thousands of drivers either increased the excess on their policies or switched to third-party-only cover in a desperate bid to cut costs.
But the latest data suggests prices have now risen even more sharply, with premiums soaring by an average of 19 per cent (£148) in the most recent quarter alone.
While rates rose across the UK, those living in inner London were worst affected, with price rises of 61 per cent (£567) bringing average premiums in the capital to more than £1,500.
Outside of London, drivers in Manchester, Merseyside and the West Midlands saw some of the steepest increases, where motorists are now paying more than £1,100 on average for cover.
The price increases are even more stark when calculated by age – with 18-year-olds now paying an average of £2,995 after their premiums soared 89 per cent in the past year to add £1,414 to the average bill.
Car insurance costs are highest for those living in London, Manchester, Merseyside and the West Midlands
On average, drivers can no longer find car insurance costing less than £1,000 until they are 38 years old, according to the index.
While prices fell during the pandemic, they have risen as people returned to normal driving habits, while the value of both secondhand cars and new electric vehicles have also risen, with the latter featuring more advanced technology – fuellinghigher repair costs, further exacerbated by supply chain issues.
“For another consecutive quarter, we’ve seen some of the highest inflation rates when it comes to car insurance,” said Louise Thomas, a car insurance expert at Confused.com, adding: “Those who haven’t yet been affected should be wary of howpricing may affect them at their next renewal.”
UK car insurance premiums surged 58% to a record high of just under £1,000 last year, blamed on the soaring costs of claims and car part prices.
Research by WTW and Confused showed motorists in the country pay on average £995, up by £366 during the past 12 months.
The Confused Car Insurance Price Index found an average price rise of 8% (£71) in the last quarter of 2023, which suggests a slowdown in rises as premiums leapt by 19% in the third quarter and 18% in the second, when the year-on-year increase was also58%.
In 2022, car insurance premiums increased 19%, according to the index.
The highest premiums and the biggest increases were quoted for recently qualified 17-year-olds, around £2,877 on average, the data showed, a 98% year-on-year increase for a group viewed as the highest risk.
https://www.proactiveinvestors.co.uk/companies/news/1038494/uk-car-insurance-premiums-surge-58-to-almost-1-000-on-average-1038494.html
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