Police forces across the UK are getting tougher on drivers that have no vehicle insurance in place, and for those caught this offence could mean much more than a few points and a smacked wrist. Drivers caught without insurance could face losing their vehicle altogether, as they car will be crushed if the driver does not pay hefty fines and sort out car insurance cover in order to claim it back.
Non-insured drivers cost honest drivers around £30 each a year in higher premiums, and every year many accidents and deaths are caused by drivers without insurance. Claims that are made following this type of accident by the other driver have to be covered by the Motor Insurers’ Bureau, and funding comes from higher premiums charged to all drivers in the UK.
Police officials state that they have now developed a much closer working relationship with the MIB and although they have had powers to seize uninsured vehicles for some time, this improved relationship will make the task far easier and for more effective.
One officer also added that pulling up uninsured drivers often revealed details of other criminal activity, with one officer stating: ‘Uninsured driving is a good marker for other criminality. Questions about insurance quickly lead elsewhere.’
An official from the MIB stated: ‘Six points, a £300-£400 bill, plus the inconvenience of being without a car and the cost of buying new insurance adds up into a more meaningful punishment.’
This initiative has already seen thousands of uninsured cars being taken off the road.
One officer said: ‘I cannot give you figures for the number of lives this has saved. A lot of fatal accidents are caused by uninsured, untaxed drivers.’
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