Police have seized several uninsured vehicles in just two days during a major crackdown across Luton and Peterborough, which saw drivers face hefty penalties for road offences.
Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB) revealed that 60 vehicles were impacted during the operation, with drivers warned that travelling in uninsured cars is against the law.
The operation, carried out last week, was led by the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Roads Policing Unit in partnership with the MIB.
It is the second crackdown to occur this year, following on from the success in March, where 43 uninsured cars were taken off Luton‘s streets in a single eight-hour sweep.
Police focused on known uninsured driving hotspots, making use of Automatic Number Plate Recognition technology and MIB‘s “Navigate” insurance database.
Over 20 roads policing officers took part, supported by local community teams, with MIB analysts providing real-time data to help identify offenders.
Sergeant Ian Leeson, from the policing unit, said uninsured drivers were not only a danger to the public but a drain on every law-abiding driver‘s wallet.
“Uninsured drivers cause untold misery to the families affected directly by their irresponsible choices,” he said. “But they also cost every law-abiding driver, whose premiums go up to pay for compensation.
The joint operation saw several cars taken off the roads for failing to meet UK regulations
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MIB
Mr Leeson added: “We also know that uninsured vehicles are frequently used in wider criminal activity. By targeting uninsured drivers, we can help deter criminal activity, making our roads safer for everyone.”
The MIB explained that someone in the UK is hit by an uninsured or hit-and-run driver every 20 minutes, with at least one person a day suffering from life-changing injuries.
The cost to the economy is also great, with figures estimated to cost the UK £1billion annually, including compensation, medical treatment, emergency response and lost productivity.
Officials have also warned that uninsured driving often overlaps with wider offences such as drug running, drink-driving, speeding and money laundering.
The operation saw the police catch drivers travelling without valid car insurance
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AVON AND SOMERSET POLICEUnder UK law, drivers can be issued a fixed penalty of £300 and six penalty points for driving without insurance.
But if the case goes to court, drivers could be slapped with an unlimited fine or disqualified from driving altogether.
Martin Saunders, Head of Uninsured Driving Prevention at MIB, said: “While many offenders knowingly violated the law, others fell victim to simple mistakes such as bounced payments, failed renewals or incorrect details.
“We urge all motorists to make sure their insurance is valid and up to date.”
As well as the 60 uninsured vehicles, police uncovered a catalogue of other offences, including 10 vehicles being driven without road tax.
Another 10 had no valid MOT, while several drivers were caught using only provisional licences, without supervision and without displaying L plates.
In one case, a motorist was found driving while disqualified, despite having had their licence revoked for eight years. Police also discovered falsified insurance documents.
Drivers must have at least third-party car insurance to travel on UK roads
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GETTYThe two-day crackdown follows repeated calls from campaigners to toughen enforcement against uninsured drivers, who are estimated to number in the hundreds of thousands across the UK.
Uninsured drivers are more likely to be involved in accidents and less likely to be able to cover the damage.
Compensation for their victims comes from the MIB, funded by a levy on every law-abiding driver’s premium.
The BCH Roads Policing Unit and the MIB explained that more joint operations are planned for the months ahead.
Mr Saunders added: “By supporting the BCH Roads Policing Unit in focusing on uninsured driving, we know the benefits will be widely felt across the county and beyond.
“We don’t want any driver to end up uninsured in the first place.”