Luton in top 10 lowest drink-driving conviction hotspots

Crewe has been revealed as the area with the highest rate of drink-driving convictions anywhere in the UK.

An analysis of 11 million car insurance quotes by MoneySuperMarket.com found that Crewe has 1.74 convictions per 1,000 people within the CW postcode area.

It beat last year’s worst area, Llandrindod Wells in Wales, into second place on 1.6 convictions per 1,000.

However, 2014’s four worst-offending areas all had higher rates of offending than the winner of this year’s dubious honour, suggesting a downturn in the rates of conviction.

For 2015 so far, three of the worst five drink-driving offence rates are in South Wales, while Llandrindod Wells is only slightly further north, just into what is officially Mid Wales.

London makes up seven of the areas with the fewest convictions per capita. London WC, one of the wealthiest areas of the capital, has the fewest with just 0.12 convictions per 1,000 drivers.

This is best explained by abundant public transport options, but quantity and quality of police enforcement also plays a part. South Wales, for example, has seen several initiatives in recent years aimed at cracking down on drink-driving.

Kevin Pratt, insurance expert at MoneySuperMarket, said: “2015 could be a breakthrough year. We’ve seen the highest rate of convictions tumble from just under two per thousand to 1.74 per thousand. That’s a significant decline and perhaps indicates that the ‘Don’t Drink & Drive’ message is finally getting through.

“The message is clear: if you’re in any doubt about your sobriety, don’t drive. Feeling hungover? Don’t drive. The temporary inconvenience you might suffer by not driving is far better than the life-changing upheaval that follows a conviction.”

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