Arabic version: المملكة المتحدة تصادر عددًا قياسيًا من المركبات غير المؤمنة في عام 2022
According to BBC News,
Nearly 160,000 uninsured cars were seized on the UK’s roads last year – the highest number for 17 years. The Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB) reported that the rising cost of cover was one of the main factors contributing to this trend. It is estimated that about 300,000 cars are being driven every day without insurance in the UK.
Hotspot areas for uninsured driving include Birmingham, which has five out of the top 15 postcodes in the UK for accidents involving uninsured drivers. In one police operation earlier this month, West Midlands Police took 16 vehicles off the road for being uninsured, including a Lamborghini. The MIB estimates that uninsured driving costs the UK economy £1 billion every year, factoring in compensation for victims, emergency services, medical costs, and loss of productivity.
The MIB noted that someone in the UK is affected by uninsured or hit-and-run drivers every 20 minutes, with one individual suffering life-altering injuries each day. The Birmingham postcodes identified as hotspots for uninsured driving include B25, B18, B66, B21, and B35, alongside other areas such as Thurrock’s RM19 in Essex, PE1 in Peterborough, M18 in Manchester, Havering’s RM1 in London, and Belfast’s BT17.
Hayley Sutcliffe, a law enforcement liaison officer for the MIB, emphasized the need for greater awareness regarding insurance laws, particularly for newcomers to the UK. Operation Scalis, which is a collaborative effort between the MIB and police forces nationwide, aims to address the growing issue of uninsured drivers. In the past five years, the number of cars taken off the roads has risen by nearly 20%.
Sgt Adrian Brown from West Midlands Police highlighted that many individuals caught driving uninsured admit they cannot afford insurance. The police also report cases of ‘fronting,’ where family members insure a young person’s car to lower premiums, which is a form of fraud. Offenders face penalties of £300 and six points on their licenses for driving without insurance.
