Road police will target uninsured drivers

Police are focusing on uninsured drivers in the area during its latest operation this week.

Road policing teams will undertake Operation Drive Insured which will feature enhanced actions to seize uninsured drivers’ vehicles and improve safety.

The Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB), a not-for-profit organisation that compensates victims of uninsured driving and works with the police to tackle the issue, estimates that 26,000 people are injured each year in the UK in collisions caused by an uninsured or untraced driver.

In addition to the human impact, the economic cost of providing services to compensate victims amounts to around £400 million annually, which is ultimately funded through higher insurance premiums from law-abiding motorists.

Superintendent Louise Blakelock, deputy head of road policing at Police Scotland said: “Operation Drive Insured will be delivered through a combination of mobile and static road checks, involving road policing officers across Scotland with support from divisional colleagues.

""Officers will target uninsured drivers and in doing this we hope to minimise the inconvenience caused to the general public and contribute to the overall safety of our roads.

"Ultimately, the honest motorist is penalised by having to pay higher premiums as a result of claims arising from uninsured losses.

“We are committed to achieving the Scottish Government’s 2020 casualty reduction targets. Many thousands of people are injured each year by uninsured drivers, therefore Police Scotland will continue to target these individuals as they present an unnecessary risk to other road users."

One contributing factor behind the rate of motor collisions caused by uninsured drivers is that unlike insured drivers, offenders are not motivated to display safer behaviour and meet the basic legal requirements designed to keep policy costs down.

Further danger is brought by links to wider crime. Each year MIB sees a large volume of uninsured drivers stopped by the police who are also found to be driving while disqualified or without a valid driving licence. A number are also caught driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

MIB is working in partnership with Police Scotland during Operation Drive Insured to help reduce these levels.

Using the Motor Insurance Database (MID), a central record of all active UK motor insurance policies, roadside officers can easily check if a vehicle appears to be uninsured. If a driver denies being uninsured, MIB can quickly liaise with insurers to confirm if valid insurance exists.

When a driver is exposed for not having insurance, they can have their vehicle seized and potentially crushed, along with a £300 fixed penalty notice and six licence penalty points.

If the case goes to court offenders can receive an unlimited fine and a driving ban. Uninsured driving convictions will also show on basic Disclosure and Barring Service checks.

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