Study shows correlation between hot weather conditions and DUI arrests

June 21, 2012 (PRLEAP.COM) Business News
The warm season has kicked in, and police officers have to deal with an increasingly high number of motorists who drive under influence. The figures tend to be as much as ten times larger than the average intoxicated drivers on cold winter days, but this Memorial Day they have had a huge spike. A study performed by Insurance Media LLC, founder of SR-22-Insurance.org, shows the correlation between hot weather conditions and number of intoxicated drivers on American roads.

"It's a common trend", said Georgia State Patrol spokesman Gordy Wright. "Whenever weather is nice, be it a holiday, weekend or just regular work day, we get an increase in the number of impaired drivers on the roadways. To counteract the phenomenon, we plan on deploying large amounts of troops during late afternoons, evenings and early morning hours because our statistics show that this is when drunk drivers are more likely to be on the roads".

The research done by Insurance Media shows a handful of results that are little known by American motorists. Officials recommend that safe and sober drivers should keep off public roads between midnight and 3 am, because the incidence of intoxicated drivers seems to be the highest in this interval, regardless of the day of the week. Moreover, drivers and their passengers should remember that their best defense against drunk drivers is the seat belt. "If you have to drive in this interval", said Selena Johnson, public spokesperson of a big insurance company, "be advised that you may run across intoxicated motorists. Drive carefully and don't go over the speed limits!"

The same study shows the impact of drinking and driving on motorists' budgets. Drivers who have been convicted for DUI will have to reach deeply in their pockets once their driving privileges are reinstated. Depending on the seriousness of the offense, the court will rule that they must file a SR-22 certificate for three or more years and the insurance costs will go through the roof.

Several insurance representatives quoted by sr-22-insurance.org say that they are ready for an increase in high-risk policies to be sold, now that summer is here. An ex-DUI convict is regarded as a huge liability by all insurance carriers and some of them might even refuse to insure a driver with such a record. The bills one can expect to pay for a basic Liability coverage are in the range of $1,500 to $2,500 for the first offense, $2,500 to $4,500 for the second one and upwards of $5,000 for the third conviction. Rates would be a lot higher if such a driver chose to get Comprehensive or Collision insurance and probably not worth the coverage for a moderately cheap car.

The study can be read and downloaded at www.sr-22-insurance.org. The site also contains insightful information on what to do if you have a SR-22 requirement.