Convicted Driver
Government should hit uninsured drivers more toughly
Wed, 29 Mar 2006
A group of insurers is calling on the government to hit uninsured drivers hard with new laws.
The British Insurance Brokers' Association (BIBA) has urged on the government to "add teeth" to the road safety bill to tackle the menace of uninsured drivers.
Currently there are thought to be two million uninsured drivers on the UK roads and the cost of uninsured driving is estimated to add £30 to every law-abiding driver's premiums.
The bill includes a new offence, with a fixed penalty of £100, of keeping a car that is not insured against third party liability.
BIBA is pushing for a £500 fine as it feels that £100 does not reflect the cost of the avoided insurance premium and is comparable to a fine for driving in a bus lane.
Graeme Trudgill, BIBA technical services manager, said: "The government must add some teeth to the road safety bill. It does not provide enough of a deterrent to halt the scourge of uninsured drivers who are making our roads so unsafe.
"Britain is suffering from an epidemic of uninsured drivers. We have the worst record in Europe with an estimated two million uninsured drivers putting us all at risk.
"Enough is enough. It is time for the government and MPs to get tough on these uninsured car louts who are putting us all at risk and costing us dear."
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