MPs and industry figures have welcomed a new television campaign to remind people of the dangers of uninsured driving.
It follows the Government’s latest crackdown which means it is an offence to keep an uninsured vehicle, rather than just to drive when uninsured from 20 June.
The national advertising campaign has been launched by the Motor Insurers’ Bureau today to raise awareness of the law.
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.”
Ashton West, chief executive at the MIB, added: “The change in law is a stepping up of enforcement activity, so that not only those vehicles driven without insurance will be caught. Now the registered keeper must make sure that their vehicle is insured all the time.
“In order to make sure everyone is aware of the new scheme, a national awareness campaign will be shown on satellite and terrestrial TV channels.
“Around four percent of vehicles have no motor insurance at any given time, and this needs to change so that is why this new enforcement approach is so important.”
Nick Starling, the ABI’s director of general insurance and health, continued: “The ABI has long campaigned for tough measures to drive uninsured drivers from our roads. Not only are uninsured motorists more likely to be involved in accidents but they also push up the cost of motor insurance for honest motorists.
“This new requirement shows how seriously the Government takes this problem and sends out a clear message – if you fail to take out motor insurance you will get caught and could face prosecution and have your vehicle destroyed. Now there is no hiding place for these law-breaking motorists”
The British Insurance Brokers’ Association has also added its support to the campaign.
Under the new system:
- The DVLA will work in partnership with the MIB to identify uninsured vehicles. Motorists will receive a letter telling them that their vehicle appears to be uninsured and warning them that they will be fined unless they take action.
- If the keeper fails to insure the vehicle they will be given a £100 fine.
- If the vehicle remains uninsured – regardless of whether the fine is paid – further action will be taken. If the vehicle is on public land it could then be clamped, seized and destroyed. Alternatively court action could be taken, with the offender facing a fine of up to £1000.
- Seized vehicles would only be released when the keeper provided evidence that the registered keeper is no longer committing an offence of having no insurance and the person proposing to drive the vehicle away is insured to do so.
- Vehicles with a valid Statutory Off Road Notice (SORN) will not be required to be insured.
Source: PostOnline
