A YouGov survey, published by the Motor Insurers’ Bureau, suggests three-quarters of the British public don’t believe the current fines for driving uninsured are high enough.
Government figures show the economic cost of uninsured driving, including compensation for victims, emergency services, medical costs and loss of productivity, is £1 billion a year.
The survey, published in July, finds that 78% of respondents don’t think the current £300 fine for driving an uninsured vehicle is enough to deter people – while 75% support increasing the fine to £1,200
MIB is calling on the government to increase the fine to £1,200 as part of its new five-year strategy, Accelerating to Zero, which aims to end uninsured driving for good.
Angus Eaton, CEO at MIB said: “Over the last 80 years, we’ve achieved a great deal as an organisation in managing claims and tackling the wider uninsured driving problem. But we know that in simply managing claims, we’re not dealing with the problem early enough because uninsured drivers still wreck lives. And it’s getting harder to solve. Accelerating to Zero is our commitment to end uninsured driving for good.
“A first step is working with the government to increase fines for those driving uninsured. We believe that the current penalty of £300, which hasn’t changed in over ten years, simply isn’t enough of a deterrent. We’re calling for the penalty to be raised so that it is double the average premium, to help eradicate the issue.
“Accelerating to Zero is an ambitious plan, but we believe that in five years’ time we will be able to look back and be proud that we’re much closer to ending uninsured driving.”
The call for increased fines is just part of a series of initiatives MIB have planned to make roads safer by ending uninsured driving. These include better education for young drivers, improved data services to identify those driving uninsured, and stronger partnerships with the government, police and the insurance industry.
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