Motorists are being warned to insure their vehicles ahead of a new crackdown to tackle the menace of uninsured driving and reduce the number of road traffic accidents.
Under the new Continuous Insurance Enforcement law – which will affect all motorists from 20th June – it is an offence to keep an uninsured vehicle, rather than just to drive when uninsured.
According to the Government, uninsured drivers are a real danger on Britain's roads. Research has shown that they tend to ignore road traffic signs, and are more likely to be involved in road traffic accidents. Latest estimates are that around 4% of motorists drive without insurance.
Road Safety Minister Mike Penning said:
“Uninsured drivers are a danger on our roads, killing 160 and injuring a further 23,000 people each year, and they cost honest motorists £500 million in extra premiums. That is why we are introducing this tough new law which will leave uninsured drivers with nowhere to hide.
"Our message is clear – get insured or face a fine, court action or seeing your car seized and destroyed.”
The new law will run alongside the existing offence of using a vehicle with no insurance, which is enforced by the police. The police seize 180,000 vehicles each year for this offence, and offenders also face a £200 fixed penalty or a court fine of up to £5,000 and possible disqualification.