Number of drivers caught without insurance ‘doubled’

The number of drivers caught behind the wheel without insurance has doubled over the last year, according one industry expert.

Graeme Trudgill, technical and corporate affairs executive for British Insurance Brokers Association, said in 2007, approximately 150,000 were seized by the police while in 2006 this number was 78,000.

Police now have access to the motor insurance database and the “power to seize uninsured vehicles”, which are both factors helping the authorities to solve other crimes.

“Usually criminals use a vehicle to aid in their criminal activity and it’s quite likely that, being the type of people that they are, they don’t bother to buy insurance, said Mr Trudgill.

According to the Motor Insurers’ Bureau, uninsured driving costs law-abiding motorists in excess of £500m each year or around £30 on their insurance premium.

Uninsured drivers are also responsible for causing an estimated 160 deaths on the road each year in the UK.

Tags: Vehicle insurance, Law Crime, activity, database, Uninsured in the United States, number