One in five has driven without insurance
07 November 2005
- Nearly 20% admit to driving without insurance
- Figure four times higher than industry stats
- Uninsured drivers' cars can be crushed
Nearly one in five motorists admits to driving without proper insurance, a whatcar.com survey has found.
In our latest poll, we asked readers: 'Have you knowingly driven a vehicle without proper insurance?' Just over 3% admitted to regularly driving without insurance, while another 14.3% said they have done so occasionally.
Commenting on the survey, a spokesman for the Association of British Insurers said: 'It is a worrying and unacceptably high figure. We have one of the worst records for uninsured drivers in Europe. Our own estimates are that 5% of UK motorists - that’s around a million drivers - are driving without insurance.
'Uninsured drivers cost the industry £500million a year, which equates to £30 a year on to every premium for law-abiding drivers.'
Uninsured drivers face having their vehicles crushed under legislation that came into force last month. The Serious Organised Crime and Police Act allows police forces to crush or sell on a vehicle if drivers cannot produce insurance documents.
Uninsured drivers can be spotted by number plate-reading cameras linked to the police's national intelligence network.
Devon and Cornwall was one of the first forces to roll out the scheme. A spokesman said: 'Uninsured drivers are a real danger. If they are in a collision, the innocent driver can often be left without compensation. In the event that someone is killed, the situation is even worse.
'Anyone who we detect driving while uninsured, or without a valid licence, can expect to have their vehicle seized at the roadside.'
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