Public Servant Lifestyle

Tottenham has been exposed as London’s worst district for uninsured driving, according to the most recent figures released by the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB).

The numbers of uninsured drivers in Tottenham per head of population are more than four times the national average.

Clapton is second in London’s uninsured driving hall of shame, followed by Seven Sisters, Norwood Green and Harlesden. All areas in the top 20 were over three times the national average suggesting the capital has significant problems with uninsured driving, which is regularly linked to other serious crimes.

The MIB will use these statistics to help the Metropolitan Police crack down on uninsured driving hotspots across the capital. “Together with the police, we will make it increasingly tougher for uninsured motorists in these areas to escape detection,” said Ashton West, chief executive of the MIB. “Now that the police know which districts contain the highest proportions of uninsured motorists, they can focus their resources and make life very difficult for these criminals.”

The measures that police forces apply include making ever-increasing use of number plate recognition cameras and new hand-held technology that enables officers to check vehicle details at the roadside. In addition, the MIB now regularly forwards details of suspected uninsured drivers directly to police forces, under new powers contained within the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act.

Serious Organised Crime and Police Act

This has enabled police forces up and down the country to seize in excess of 15,000 vehicles since the beginning of the year. More than 40% of these have already been crushed where drivers have not provided satisfactory evidence of insurance required for return of the vehicle.

Superintendent Ian Chappell, in charge of Operations for the Metropolitan Police Traffic Unit said, “Uninsured drivers are a danger to other road users. We will use the powers available to us to tackle uninsured drivers head on, and ultimately, deny them the use of the roads.

Anyone driving an uninsured vehicle risks losing it, and potentially having it crushed. Automatic Number Plate Recognition Technology is helping us to fight crime, and take dangerous drivers – who are breaking the law – off London’s roads. By working in partnership with other agencies we have a better chance of making London’s roads safer”.

Mr West continued, “These districts’ problems with rogue motorists are not only raising the cost of honest Londoners’ insurance premiums but they are undermining road safety. Research has proven that uninsured drivers are: Ten times more likely to have been convicted of drink-driving, six times more likely to have been convicted of driving a non-roadworthy vehicle (and) three times more likely to have been convicted of driving without due care and attention.”

The Motor Insurers’ Bureau compensates the victims of road accidents caused by uninsured and untraced motorists.

More information available in Insurance