Darling sees new uninsured crackdown in action

Tough new enforcement action to crackdown on uninsured drivers has been unveiled by Transport Secretary Alistair Darling.

From today, police forces across the country can use automatic number plate recognition cameras to spot and ultimately seize and destroy cars being driven without insurance.

The cameras are linked to a database which contains details of all vehicles registered in the UK which are believed to be uninsured. The Transport Secretary saw West Midlands police in action as they began the crackdown.

Alistair Darling said: "Today we are sending out a very clear message to those who drive without insurance- there is now no place to hide.

"The new powers to link up cameras and the insurance database will make it far easier for police to tell if passing cars are uninsured and take action against the driver.

"On top of these powers we are creating a new offence of keeping a vehicle without insurance. This will be enforced through a new database of insurance details which means that uninsured drivers don't even need to be on the road to be caught.

"It is estimated that every law-abiding motorist pays an extra £30 a year because of uninsured drivers. Drivers are rightly fed-up with those who flout the law and we are determined to rid the roads of this small hardcore of anti-social drivers."

Meredydd Hughes, ACPO lead on roads policing and Chief Constable of South Yorkshire Police said: "The police service and the government are constantly striving to make our roads as safe as possible for all road users. Evidence indicates that up to 10% of vehicles on our roads are being used illegally and many of these will be people who drive with no insurance. We know that people who don't insure their vehicles, or indeed drive with no licence or test certificate are more likely to be involved in other criminal activity, and in collisions. Collisions in which people may be killed or seriously injured.

"The Operation that we are carrying out today will root out those motorists who do not comply with the law by insuring their vehicles. The law exists to protect all of us and we will not tolerate the minority of drivers who flout the law showing no respect or concern for their fellow drivers. If you drive without insurance, expect to be caught and brought to justice."

The new offence of keeping a vehicle without insurance, announced by the Government in September, will mean that uninsured drivers can be caught before they even take to the road.

Earlier this year the government gave the police new powers, to seize and ultimately dispose of any vehicle being found driven uninsured.