Men in 30s most likely to be caught drink driving, new data finds
Male drivers aged 30-39 are more likely to be caught drink driving than any other age group – including young drivers.
A total of 13,892 male drivers in their 30s were convicted for drink driving in 2020 – that’s 67% higher than the 8,285 men aged 18-24 convicted and a staggering 415% higher than for women in their 30s
Analysis of Ministry of Justice data by convicted car insurance specialist Keith Michaels found that 13,892 male drivers in their 30s were convicted for drink driving in 2020 – that’s 67% higher than the 8,285 men aged 18-24 convicted last year and a staggering 415% higher than for women in their 30s.
The research also found that men in every age category were at least 267% more likely than women to be convicted of drink or drug driving.
Top 10 most likely demographics to be convicted for drink driving, and how many were convicted in 2020:
- Men aged 30-39: 13,892 convicted
- Men aged 18-24: 8,285 convicted
- Men aged 25-29: 8,251 convicted
- Men aged 40-49: 7,123 convicted
- Men aged 50-59: 3,637 convicted
- Women aged 30-39: 2,695 convicted
- Women aged 40-49: 1,666 convicted
- Women aged 25-29: 1,338 convicted
- Women aged 18-24: 1,333 convicted
- Men aged 60-69: 1,232 convicted
The data also shows that drink driving convictions fell in 2020 after rising since 2017. A total of 48,853 drivers were convicted of drink driving last year – down 12.6% from the figure of 55,887 for 2019 and 6.1% since 2018.
Mike Roberts, chairman of Keith Michaels, said: “It’s incredibly compelling that drink and driving convictions fell once again in 2020. Although this may have been helped by various lockdowns throughout the year, the ongoing decline will hopefully continue in the future, meaning our roads will increasingly become safer as people take their responsibilities as drivers and duty of care on the roads more seriously.”
He added: “The best way to not be caught drink or drug driving is by not taking any chances, therefore if you’re uncertain whether you should get behind the wheel, be wary and travel another way.”
Natalie Middleton
Natalie has worked as a fleet journalist for over 20 years, previously as assistant editor on the former Company Car magazine before joining Fleet World in 2006. Prior to this, she worked on a range of B2B titles, including Insurance Age and Insurance Day.
