Number of uninsured drivers drops by a third in 2018

08.02 | 30 May 2019 |

Fewer people were caught driving without insurance in 2018 than in any year since 2012, data collated by the RAC reveals.

A freedom of information (FOI) request to the DVLA found that 79,713 uninsured drivers were detected in 2018, a year-on-year reduction of 33%.

2018 is the lowest of the seven years’ data analysed by the RAC – with 27% fewer convictions than the 108,616 recorded in 2012.

In terms of age, the youngest offenders in 2018 were two 11-year-olds. At the other end of the spectrum, a 96-year-old was found guilty of the offence.

Twenty-four was the most common age among uninsured drivers detected in 2018, with 3,309 people of this age being penalised.

The RAC says ‘it can only be good news’ that the number of people driving without insurance has dropped significantly – as it should help keep premiums down for every driver.

However, the motoring organisation has hit out at those who continue to drive uninsured, describing them as ‘selfish’.

Mark Godfrey, director of RAC Insurance, said: “Even though the figures show an improvement in compliance the law demands that every driver has insurance.

“This is to protect everyone who uses the road: drivers, passengers, motorcyclists, cyclists and pedestrians.

“Those who drive without insurance are not only breaking the law, they are also selfishly putting others, as well as themselves, at financial and legal risk.”


 

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