...but prosecutions surge over the past seven years
The average fine slapped on uninsured drivers has dropped by just under 25% in seven years, the Home Office has revealed.
In 1997 the average fine imposed by courts for all the offences of using a vehicle uninsured against third party risks was £224. But latest figures available for 2004 show the average fine has dropped to £169. In the past seven years, fines have fluctuated between £224 to a low of just £150.
But despite the falling penalties, figures released also showed a dramatic increase in the number of court cases ending in prosecution. In 1997, 257,689 drivers were found guilty. In 2004, this number rose to 322,816, according to figures released as part of a parliamentary question.
The number of cases dismissed or withdrawn has decreased from 122,173 in 1997 to 107,717 in 2004.
Alistair Carmichael MP said the government needed to ensure that sentencing guidelines given to the courts reflected the harm caused by uninsured drivers, which was "clearly" not the case at present.
He added: "The decrease in the average fine is indicative that driving without insurance is not taken seriously enough by the courts."
The Road Safety Bill, which is currently going through the Commons, would give police access to insurance data and the power to detect uninsured drivers through automatic number plate reading technology.
Graeme Trudgill, Biba technical services manager, said the falling average fine was "disappointing", adding that Biba was pushing for tough penalties for uninsured drivers. The Road Safety Bill introduces a £100 fine for keeping an uninsured vehicle, which Biba describes as "derisory".
