Gloucestershire Police launch crackdown on uninsured drivers
Officers are supporting a national campaign to make roads safer and fairer
A crackdown on uninsured drivers is taking place across Gloucestershire this week as police support a national campaign to make roads safer and fairer.
It comes as figures show almost one thousand uninsured vehicles have been seized in the county so far this year, with GL1 flagged as the biggest hotspot, closely followed by the GL5, GL7 and GL4 postcodes.
Government figures show the economic cost of uninsured driving, including compensation for victims, emergency services, medical costs and loss of productivity, is £1 billion a year.
Uninsured drivers could face a three hundred pound fine, six points on their licence, and risk having their car crushed.
If your case goes to court, you may also receive an unlimited fine and even a driving ban.
The Motor Insurer's Bureau says checking your policy only takes a minute and could save plenty of hassle and expense down the line.
An uninsured vehicle is seized every four minutes across the UK, with almost 120,000 seized so far this year.
Around 1,000 of those vehicle seizures were made in Gloucestershire alone.
Gloucestershire Police warn that being caught driving uninsured can affect every part of your life – a loss of your independence, an inability to care for dependants, and even affected job prospects as a driving conviction can show up on background searches.
They've noted a few easy mistakes worth double-checking:
- Assumed your policy auto-renews? Not all do, and expired payment cards can cause lapses
- Forgotten when your insurance expires? Check your renewal date today
- Kept a vehicle off the road without declaring it SORN with the DVLA? Make sure it’s officially off-road
- Thought fully comprehensive cover lets you drive someone else’s car? It often doesn’t - check your policy first for coverage and any restrictions
- Using your car for work or deliveries on a social-only policy? You’ll likely need commuting, business or hire-and-reward cover
If you’re not sure about your insurance status, check today for free by visiting the MIB website.
Martin Saunders, Head of Enforcement at MIB said: “Whilst we focus on uninsured driving every day of the year, Operation Drive Insured is a key moment in the year to draw attention to the devastation this issue causes to our society.
“Our aim is to end uninsured driving, which means working closely with the police across the UK to remove dangerous vehicles from our roads.
"At the same time, we are ramping up our support for motorists who want to drive legally, providing them with the knowledge they need to have the right cover in place.”