News
Uninsured drivers continue to cause concern
20 Aug 2007
Uninsured driving continues to be a consistent problem on our roads. There are now more than two million motorists driving without car insurance.
Latest research shows that average fines imposed by magistrates stand at £169 - a 25 per cent drop over the past ten years.
Young drivers using high-performance cars have even less incentive to insure their cars when fully comprehensive premiums cost up to £2,500.
The Government calculates that 2.1 million are driving without cover, one in 15 motorists.
Susan Kramer, Liberal Democrat transport spokesman, said: "This demonstrates the inadequacy of fines for uninsured drivers.
The Motor Insurers' Bureau said that last year 15 per cent of uninsured drivers were aged 17 to 21 and 33 per cent were aged 21 to 29.
Last year at least 78,000 vehicles were seized by the police for no insurance, 17,500 were seized for no driving licence and 6,000 for no vehicle excise duty in England and Wales.
The New Drivers' Law, introduced ten years ago, automatically revokes the driving licences of new drivers who run up six penalty points in their first two years on the road. However, courts fear up that up to 65,000 youngsters banned under this rule have sneaked back on to the road, sometimes without tax or insurance.
Meredydd Hughes, Chief Constable of South Yorkshire and the Association of Chief Police Officers' spokesman on roads policing, said: "Too often the police attend collisions where one of the drivers had no insurance.
"Evidence shows that uninsured drivers are ten times more likely to commit other road traffic offences."
Ashton West, chief executive of the Motor Insurers' Bureau, said:
"Time and time again we see the consequences of uninsured driving. Innocent lives are ruined by the selfishness of drivers who think they are above the law. More must and can be done."