Menu
23/05/2011
'Car Insurance Needed' - Even When Not Driven
British motorists are being warned to insure their vehicles ahead of a new crackdown to tackle the menace of uninsured driving.
Under the new Continuous Insurance Enforcement law - which will affect all motorists from June 20 - it is an offence to keep an uninsured vehicle on the road, rather than just to drive when uninsured.
A national advertising campaign will be 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 Motor Insurers' Bureau, said: "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."
Under the new system the DVLA will work in partnership with the Motor Insurers' Bureau 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 and if the keeper fails to insure the vehicle they will be given a £100 fine.
Then, 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 £1,000.
However, vehicles with a valid Statutory Off Road Notice (SORN) will not be required to be insured.
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.
The DVLA's records will be compared regularly with the Motor Insurance Database (MID) and this process will identify registered keepers of vehicles that appear to have no insurance.
(BMcC/GK)
Under the new Continuous Insurance Enforcement law - which will affect all motorists from June 20 - it is an offence to keep an uninsured vehicle on the road, rather than just to drive when uninsured.
A national advertising campaign will be 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 Motor Insurers' Bureau, said: "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."
Under the new system the DVLA will work in partnership with the Motor Insurers' Bureau 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 and if the keeper fails to insure the vehicle they will be given a £100 fine.
Then, 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 £1,000.
However, vehicles with a valid Statutory Off Road Notice (SORN) will not be required to be insured.
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.
The DVLA's records will be compared regularly with the Motor Insurance Database (MID) and this process will identify registered keepers of vehicles that appear to have no insurance.
(BMcC/GK)
Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
11 January 2011
Uninsured Drivers Face New Crackdown
New powers to tackle uninsured driving will come into force within months, Road Safety Minister Mike Penning announced today. Under the new powers it will be an offence to keep an uninsured vehicle, rather than just to drive when uninsured.
Uninsured Drivers Face New Crackdown
New powers to tackle uninsured driving will come into force within months, Road Safety Minister Mike Penning announced today. Under the new powers it will be an offence to keep an uninsured vehicle, rather than just to drive when uninsured.
30 September 2005
Government propose crackdown on uninsured driving
Road Safety Minister Stephen Ladyman has announced a clamp down on uninsured drivers. Under the new proposals, which are part of the Road Safety Bill, it will become an offence to own a car that is neither insured nor registered as ‘off the road’.
Government propose crackdown on uninsured driving
Road Safety Minister Stephen Ladyman has announced a clamp down on uninsured drivers. Under the new proposals, which are part of the Road Safety Bill, it will become an offence to own a car that is neither insured nor registered as ‘off the road’.
08 November 2005
Clamp down to hit uninsured drivers
New measures to clamp down on uninsured drivers have been announced by the government. Police forces across the country will now be able to use automatic number plate recognition cameras to spot uninsured vehicles, which can then be seized and possibly destroyed.
Clamp down to hit uninsured drivers
New measures to clamp down on uninsured drivers have been announced by the government. Police forces across the country will now be able to use automatic number plate recognition cameras to spot uninsured vehicles, which can then be seized and possibly destroyed.
23 May 2011
Motorists Warned To Get Insured Ahead Of Crackdown
Motorists are being warned to insure their vehicles ahead of a new crackdown to tackle the menace of uninsured driving. Under the new Continuous Insurance Enforcement law – which will affect all motorists from 20 June – it is an offence to keep an uninsured vehicle, rather than just to drive when uninsured.
Motorists Warned To Get Insured Ahead Of Crackdown
Motorists are being warned to insure their vehicles ahead of a new crackdown to tackle the menace of uninsured driving. Under the new Continuous Insurance Enforcement law – which will affect all motorists from 20 June – it is an offence to keep an uninsured vehicle, rather than just to drive when uninsured.
22 October 2004
Proposals call for more uninsured cars to be seized
Government proposals to allow the police to seize, and where appropriate destroy, uninsured vehicles have been set out today. In the UK there are an estimated 1.2 million people - about one in twenty motorists - who regularly drive uninsured, and honest motorists pay an estimated £30 each to cover the cost of claims made against the uninsured.
Proposals call for more uninsured cars to be seized
Government proposals to allow the police to seize, and where appropriate destroy, uninsured vehicles have been set out today. In the UK there are an estimated 1.2 million people - about one in twenty motorists - who regularly drive uninsured, and honest motorists pay an estimated £30 each to cover the cost of claims made against the uninsured.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A showery start with outbreaks most frequent north of Lough Neagh and through the morning, before dwindling during the afternoon as the northwest breezes ease and brighter spells of weak sunshine prosper. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:A dry night, save for a few light showers around the coasts, with prolonged clear spells and light winds bringing a frosty dawn for many in central and southern parts. Minimum temperature -3 °C.
