Thousands of motorists have faced prosecution for committing a major driving offence on UK roads, with an average of 237 offenders caught daily.
In total, more than 86,000 drivers have been caught driving without insurance across the UK, with experts now calling for tougher driving rules.
According to reports, the Lancashire town of Blackburn has emerged as the nation’s worst offender, with one in every 242 licensed motorists having been convicted of driving without insurance.
The industrial town narrowly topped Bradford, where the ratio stands at one in 244, while South East London ranked third with one in 262.
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Reports revealed that 237 drivers were caught daily travelling without car insurance
The data obtained from a Freedom of Information request revealed that despite a 17 per cent year-on-year decline in offences, the scale of illegal driving remains substantial.
More than half of the 10 worst-affected areas are concentrated in Greater London, highlighting a particular problem in the capital.
The report detailed how six of the 10 worst-affected areas were located within Greater London, including Ilford, East London, Romford, North London and Harrow.
Outside the capital, Northampton in Northamptonshire and Birmingham in the West Midlands complete the list of hotspots. Despite having lower rates per licence holder, Birmingham, Manchester, and East London recorded the highest absolute numbers of offences over the three-year period examined.
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Greater London was found to be a hotspot for uninsured driving
The data indicated a 17 per cent year-on-year decline in violations, suggesting some improvement in compliance with insurance requirements. However, experts have warned that thousands of motorists still continue to flout the law.
The financial burden of uninsured motorists costs the UK economy £1billion annually, encompassing victim compensation, emergency service expenses, medical treatment and lost productivity, according to Government estimates.
Nicholas Shaw, Managing Director at Dayinsure, said: “Not only is it a legal requirement, but driving without insurance will make you liable for any damage you cause to other vehicles or persons if you get in an accident.”
Under UK law, drivers can be issued a fixed penalty of £300 and six penalty points for driving without insurance. But if the case goes to court, drivers could be slapped with an unlimited fine or disqualified from driving altogether. “The police even have the power to seize, and in some cases destroy, the uninsured vehicle,” Shaw warned.
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However, due to the increasing number of drivers breaking the law, public sentiment has begun strongly favouring tougher sanctions, with a recent YouGov poll revealing that 78 per cent of British adults consider the existing £300 penalty insufficient as a deterrent.
Shaw said: “All things considered, it’s just not worth the risk. If you want to save money on your car insurance, it’s better to shop around for a cheaper policy.”
The Motor Insurers Bureau, which compensates victims of uninsured and hit-and-run incidents, has begun strongly advocating for tougher penalties for uninsured driving. The organisation has proposed setting fines at double the average insurance premium to eliminate any financial incentive for flouting the law.
The poll revealed that three-quarters of respondents endorsed increasing the fine to £1,200, four times the current amount.
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Experts have called for the penalty for uninsured driving to be increased to £1,200
The bureau has unveiled an ambitious five-year plan called “Accelerating to Zero” aimed at eliminating uninsured driving entirely.
Chief Executive Angus Eaton acknowledged that while the organisation has compensated victims since 1946, merely managing claims fails to address the root problem.
He said: “A first step is working with the government to increase fines for those driving uninsured. We believe that the current penalty of £300, which hasn’t changed in over ten years, simply isn’t enough of a deterrent. We’re calling for the penalty to be raised so that it is double the average premium, to help eradicate the issue.
“Accelerating to Zero is an ambitious plan, but we believe that in five years’ time we will be able to look back and be proud that we’re much closer to ending uninsured driving.”
