Public Servant Lifestyle

A crushing blow has been dealt to illegal motorists thanks to new Police technology claims the Association of British Insurers.

Law-breaking motorists are feeling the heat, as record numbers of uninsured vehicles are being seized and crushed, according to figures released at the ABI’s (Association of British Insurers) annual motor conference.

The use of automatic number plate recognition technology by the Police has led to over 100,000 uninsured vehicles being seized by the police in roadside checks so far this year, compared to 78,000 during 2006. Of these, some 45,000 have been crushed.

Unroadworthy?

Nick Starling, Director of General Insurance and Health of the ABI, said: “Uninsured drivers are a menace. They often drive unroadworthy vehicles, and the cost of compensating their victims adds an extra £30 a year to premiums paid by honest motorists. These figures show that the determination of the insurance industry, and the police to drive them from our roads is beginning to bear fruit. However we need to ensure that the penalties they face reflect the seriousness of this crime.”

Ashton West, Group Chief Executive of the Motor Insurers’ Bureau, said: “The fight against uninsured drivers has now stepped up a gear, and we expect vehicle seizure numbers to increase over the coming months. Equally encouraging is the reduction in reported claims to the MIB, which were almost 4% down last year. On current trends the reduction is likely to be even greater by the end of 2007.”

The ABI is the trade association for Britain’s insurance industry. Its nearly 400 member companies provide over 94% of the insurance business in the UK. It represents insurance companies to the Government, and to the regulatory and other agencies, and is an influential voice on public policy and financial services issues. ABI member companies hold up to a sixth of all investments traded on the London Stock Exchange, on behalf of millions of pensioners and savers.

Further reading: make sense your car insurance with the ABI's motor insurance consumer guide - Driving With Confidence (641KB .PDF)

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More information available in Insurance, Maintenance, New & Used, On The Road