MASS MOTOR ACCIDENT

Driving without Insurance is a Criminal Offence

Did you know that in 2009 there were 1.5 million uninsured drivers, 20% of whom were between 17 & 20. The cost to the industry is approximately £500 million, which adds about £30 per year to every policy for the law abiding motorist.

Will you get caught? - Yes!

In 2009 180,000 vehicles were seized by the police, with 194,000 convictions for driving without insurance – that’s 1 conviction every 3 minutes!

All police forces now have ANPR – Automatic Number Plate Recognition facility whereby they can check on the central insurance database (known as MID) whether a vehicle is insured. This can either be done from their patrol cars whilst they are driving or at the roadside.

This will be strengthened further in January 2011 when it will be illegal to keep a vehicle and not insure or SORN it. The DVLA and Insurance databases will be linked so the authorities / police will know any vehicle that is taxed but not insured or vice versa. If your vehicle does not appear on both databases you will receive a letter and you will have 14 days in which to either SORN the vehicle or produce a valid insurance policy.

Penalties for Uninsured Driving

• 6 points on your licence
• £200 fine
• £150 recovery fee if your vehicle is impounded
• 14 days to retrieve an impounded vehicle with a valid insurance policy- if not retrieved the vehicle will be sold or crushed

Penalties for not Insuring a vehicle

• £100 fixed penalty fine with your vehicle clamped
• Fine of up to £1000 and prosecution if insurance is not purchased thereafter

What to do if hit by an Uninsured Driver

If you are involved in an accident and the other driver is uninsured, or it was a ‘hit and run’ (known as Untraced) then always seek independent legal advice. These claims are more complex and have to go through a different procedure, which involves the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB).

Combating Uninsured Driving

For nearly 20 years, MASS has been campaigning against Uninsured Driving to protect the accident victim and for a ‘zero tolerance’ approach to be adopted. Through our continuous efforts of campaigning and working with the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB), the Government, Police and Enforcement Authorities have now taken this issue more seriously.

MASS has always campaigned for:

• More effective deterrents – For example, increased / harsher penalties; disposal / crushing of vehicles
• Education of young drivers of the importance and legal requirements of motor insurance
• Increased use of ANPR by all Police Forces to detect uninsured drivers
• Introduction of a ‘road-side’ helpline for the public to use

We are delighted that at last we have made some impact in reducing the number of uninsured drivers. That said, with 1:20 drivers on UK roads currently uninsured, there is still a long way to go. Consequently, MASS will continue to work with the MIB by supporting their ‘Stay Insured’ (www.askMID.com) campaign and continue to lobby the Government so that our ultimate aim of achieving little or no uninsured drivers is achieved, making UK roads a safer place and protecting the accident victim.

For further information and statistics provided by the MIB please download the pdf documents below:

Stay Insured Report

Uninsured Driving Hotspots Fact Sheet

Uninsured Driving Hotspots Map