| More on Uninsured Drivers |
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Over 78,000 vehicles were seized by the Police during 2006 for no insurance, of which 40% were subsequently crushed or sold. There are currently around 34 million vehicles in total on the roads in the UK.
Uninsured drivers costs the honest motorist on average an additional £30 per year on their premiums and something in excess of £500 million in total every year in claims. Uninsured drivers are also around 10 times more likely to have a drink driving conviction, 6 times more likely to be driving an unsafe vehicle and 4 times more like to have a driving without due care and attention conviction. Circa 160 deaths on our roads each year are as a result of uninsured driving. To support the Police and to reassure the public that checks are in place to prevent accidental seizures MIB (Motor Insurers’ Bureau) launched a dedicated Police Helpline to assist the Police with difficult roadside situations where there may be doubt over the validity of insurance cover for a suspect vehicle. The MIB Police Helpline has been designed to make the process of identifying uninsured drivers quick and accurate. A phone call to the Police Helpline can save protracted negotiations at the roadside and/or the embarrassment of seizing a vehicle unnecessarily. MIB is committed to helping the Police to stamp out uninsured driving and the Police Helpline is designed to ensure all checks are made before a vehicle is seized. |