Drivers have been warned they could be slapped with a £300 fine and have their car insurance invalidated for breaching a major road safety rule.
North Wales Police have issued a warning to drivers to follow the rules after an operation highlighted several cases of dangerous driving.
A UK-wide initiative led by the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB), known as Operation Scalis, has been launched to tackle uninsured driving.
Operation Scalis aims to reduce the number of uninsured vehicles on the roads through targeted enforcement and driver education.
Police revealed that they seized an average of 82 vehicles per month across the region for failing to have car insurance.
The insurance bureau offers financial compensation to Britons affected by uninsured driving and hit-and-run drivers.
Operation Scalis has already been launched across eight UK police forces, including Essex, West Midlands, and Thames Valley.
The initiative brought together road policing teams who used Automatic Number Plate Recognition technology to identify vehicles being driven without insurance, with subsequent enforcement action then taken.
The police seized several vehicles for failing to have car insurance
|
NORTH WALES POLICE
The police explained that while the operation mainly targeted uninsured vehicles, any additional criminal activity discovered will also be addressed.
During the first day of action, vehicle seizures included a newly licenced driver who passed in April but had his insurance cancelled due to non-compliance with telematics.
In another case, a disqualified driver was found to be driving with invalid insurance. Elsewhere, the police detailed how a recovery truck was seized after the driver used a personal trade policy outside permitted road conditions.
Operation Scalis aims to educate drivers about the serious consequences of driving without insurance and the impact it has on Britons.
In the UK, drivers caught without insurance can be issued a £300 fixed penalty fine and slapped with six penalty points. This can also lead to automatic disqualification for new drivers, vehicle seizure, and potential destruction.
Drivers can also be hit with unlimited fines and driving bans via court referral, as well as a £1,000 average increase in future insurance premiums.
Sergeant Alun Jones of the Roads Crime Unit at North Wales Police said: “Reducing the number of people killed or seriously injured on our roads remains our priority, and removing uninsured drivers from our roads helps to do just that.
“We’re pleased to be part of the MIB’s Operation Scalis – a proactive ANPR initiative that enhances road safety and reduces the financial impact on law-abiding motorists across North Wales.”
The police were able to catch uninsured drivers through Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras
|
NORTH WALES POLICE
Mr Jones said: “Uninsured drivers are significantly more likely to cause a death or injury on the road and are also often involved in wider road crime.
“We witness far too often the devastation a road collision has on those involved, their families and the wider community. When this also involves an uninsured driver, there is also the financial cost associated with it.”
Hayley Sutcliffe, Law Enforcement Liaison Officer at MIB, explained that uninsured driving “has real consequences” for road safety.
“This partnership also gives us an opportunity to raise awareness among the public about the consequences of driving without insurance and some simple checks to avoid common insurance mistakes,” she said.