Biba news: MIB database, best way to track uninsured drivers

An accurate database of insured vehicles is the only way to determine and identify uninsured drivers - that was the main outcome from Biba's seminar entitled: "Should brokers fear telematics and database demands?"

The Motor Insurance Database (MID) has developed into a powerful tool and Ashton West, chief executive of the Motor Insurers' Bureau (MIB) which runs it stressed the importance of the database to brokers.

He said that the police were using the MID regularly to check for uninsured drivers having used the database some 30m times this year.

The police's Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system identifies uninsured cars on the road when cross-referenced with the MID. Police have the power to seize those vehicles recognised as uninsured.

So far 60,000 vehicles have been taken off the roads since the two technologies were linked (ANPR and MID). South Yorkshire was the first region to test-pilot the scheme which is due to be rolled out to all other UK forces later this year.

Meredith Hughes, chief constable of south Yorkshire told the audience of brokers that there were 500,000 uninsured drivers on the roads. The majority of offenders caught, he said, could usually be linked to other criminal activity.

Meanwhile Tom Roberts, policy adviser at the Department of Transport, made it clear that the government recognised the benefits of tackling the problem of uninsured drivers. Currently, the MID was just an information centre and not a "statutory record," he said.