17,000 uninsured drivers on the road – and that‘s just in Norfolk!

Surprising new statistics from the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB) have revealed just how widespread the problem of uninsured driving has become in the UK. Around 3 percent of the county’s 580,000 motorists are thought to be driving without valid insurance. Police in the area insist that by using new technologies an increasing number of these drivers are being caught, yet over 17,000 remain, even in a sparsely populated county like Norfolk.

Uninsured drivers are, according to recent figures, around nine times as likely to be involved in a road traffic accident compared to insured drivers. Nationally, about 1 in 20 cars on the road is driven without insurance, either because cover has been allowed to expire, or because it was never purchased in the first place. If caught, uninsured drivers face a fixed penalty notice of at least £200 and six points on their licence. Police forces in England and Wales now also have additional powers to remove uninsured vehicles from the road by putting them in storage until the owner pays to release it.

One Norfolk Police officer, Sgt. Sturman, spoke to the local press, saying that improved methods of dealing with uninsured drivers has meant that it is now much harder to dodge fines. Cameras using number plate recognition software can instantly identify uninsured vehicles, regardless of whether the vehicle has been pulled over by police. Increased communication between the Police and the Motor Insurers Bureau has also allowed quicker checks to see if insurance paperwork is still valid.

With the cost of uninsured driving adding about £30 onto the average motoring insurance policy, reducing the number of drivers without insurance is an important issue not just in terms of road safety, but also due to its financial implications for other drivers. If you have been injured in an accident where you suspect the other driver was not insured and you would like to make a claim through the Motor Insurers’ Bureau, Camps Solicitors can help.

Whether you are in Norfolk, Suffolk or anywhere else in England and Wales, one of our representatives can meet face-to-face with you to explain the claims process and help you with the paperwork of your claim.