Nearly 2,500 uninsured vehicles seized by police each week
More than £5m worth of fines for uninsured driving have been collected from tens of thousands of drivers over the past two years, according to figures from the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB).
A crackdown on uninsured driving has been underway since a change in the law brought in Continuous Insurance Enforcement, under which the DVLA’s records of vehicle owners are matched with a record on the Motor Insurance Database. The move has resulted in almost 2,500 uninsured vehicles being seized by police each week.
The MIB said that about a million people, or one in 36 of all vehicle owners, are estimated to be without insurance, while the AA estimates that uninsured drivers cost Britain at least £380m every year, adding around £33 to the cost of every car insurance policy.
The MIB report said: “Police powers to seize vehicles on the road for no insurance coupled with Continuous Insurance Enforcement are making a significant contribution to reducing uninsured driving in the UK and have contributed to a 40% reduction in the level and impact of uninsured driving.
“It is estimated that uninsured drivers kill 130 people and injure 26,500 every year but more still needs to be done.”
MIB chief executive Ashton West said: “There is no let-up in the efforts to catch these people who have no insurance for their vehicle.
“The Motor Insurance Database is a powerful tool for enforcement agencies to crack down on illegal motorists and reduce the very real and significant impact of uninsured driving.
“Whether it’s a fixed penalty or your vehicle being seized, we are seeing the continued benefits of having a central database that the police and DVLA can use to enforce the law. This is good news for all honest motorists.”
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