Motor insurers call for crackdown on uninsured drivers

Hard-hitting proposals advanced today by the Association of British Insurers aim to crackdown on those caught driving while uninsured.

The ABI is calling for a shake up in the detection of uninsured drivers - who cost the UK's honest motorists around £500 million each year - and for tougher penalties, including the confiscation of vehicles from offenders.

Over 1 million drivers - around 5% of UK motorists - drive illegally without insurance. Accidents involving these drivers cost more than half a billion-a-year and place up to £30 a year, roughly 6%, on each motor insurance premium paid by every honest motorist in the country.

John Parker, Head of General Insurance at the ABI, said: "Cracking down on uninsured driving will not only improve safety on our roads, but also help reduce the cost of motor insurance for honest and responsible drivers. The Government review provides the best opportunity for decades to tackle the problem. The opportunity must not be wasted."

The 'Safer, Cheaper, Legal' campaign against uninsured driving sets out the size of the problem, why it must be tackled, and seeks to highlight the ABI’s recommendations to a Government-commissioned review chaired by Professor David Greenaway of Nottingham University.

The Association believe the key to reducing the problem is a combination of better enforcement and deterrence through:

• Linking existing insurance information held on the Motor Insurance Database, with licensing and tax data held by the DVLA. This would identify drivers with road tax but no insurance. Many uninsured motorists fall into this category;
• A wider range of more effective penalties. These include confiscation of vehicles, community service orders and enforcing back - payment of insurance. The ABI’s opinion research amongst motorists shows that fines alone are not an effective deterrent.

The ABI’s proposals are supported by opinion research among motorists.

Many uninsured drivers surveyed said fines did not put them off driving illegally, but that they would be dissuaded by the prospect of having their car impounded.

(SP)