A new video has been released as part of a campaign to remind drivers that car insurance is a legal requirement.
‘Protection’ has been produced by the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB) and is the second phase of its ‘Gone in Seconds’ campaign.
The film shows a young couple in a parked car, preparing to get intimate. However, this comes to an abrupt end when the female realises the male doesn’t have any protection.
Delivered as an innuendo for not having car insurance, the voiceover says, “if you are not protected, you could be in for a nasty surprise”.
The nasty surprise comes in the form of a police officer knocking on the window to discover the driver is uninsured. The car is towed away, leaving the male driver standing there devoid of his trousers.
The new video was launched alongside new MIB figures which show that on average every three days someone is involved in a collision with an uninsured or ‘hit and run’ driver, which will ultimately lead to a fatality.
MIB says this statistic highlights the need to reduce the one million drivers who are using the UK road network without insurance.
The Gone in Seconds campaign was first launched in September 2015 in response to an increase in the number of claims from collisions involving uninsured drivers.
The campaign website highlights the consequences of driving without insurance and provides tips to help drivers get the best deals on insurance cover.
Ashton West OBE, MIB chief executive, said: “The numbers of claims handled by MIB each year highlights the devastating impact of uninsured driving on communities and families up and down the country.
“We are aiming this new awareness campaign at motorists who are driving without insurance. The video brings to light the importance of protection when it comes to car insurance. We think this is something that everyone will understand.
“We want people to talk about this and encourage anyone they know who is driving without insurance, to change their behaviour.”
Not having motor insurance is more of a criminality issue than a road safety issue, although for those who regard not obeying laws as a way of life, then public safety and social responsibilty are probably not uppermost in their minds either especially when behind the wheel. An uninsured driver removed from the roads is no doubt also a collision potentially prevented. As with all traffic law enforcement however, it is difficult to prove.
Hugh Jones, Cheshire
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Thanks David.I am checking up on that one and did say that it could not would possibly be invalid. I am aware of their ability and right to reduce risk by lowering the insurance to the third party liability only but even that means that they will not be covered for personal loss and that could still mean quite a heavy financial penalty considering the value of their vehicle and the possible injury caused to themselves.
Bob Craven Lancs
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Bob, that is incorrect – they cannot totally invalidate insurance for lack of MOT or tax, however, nothing is stopping them from reducing the policy to third party.
David Weston, Corby
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A valiant attempt perhaps, but I don’t think those who knowingly do not comply with the law are going to turn over a new leaf after having watched an advert. I think their mindset is ‘take a chance on getting away with it for as long as you can’ – applies to other traffic offences as well I’m sure. There are some who seem to have an inbuilt resistance to accept laws, rules and regulations.
Hugh Jones, Cheshire
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How many drivers are aware that even if they pay for insurance they will not be covered if the MOT on the vehicle is not in force? Some years ago it used to be that the vehicle had to be maintained in good working order. No mention of the need for an MOT but since then and at some time in the past the policy documents changed to actually saying that a vehicle over 3 years old needed an MOT, it therefore follows that if one is not in force the insurance could be invalid.
A slight change but a large consequence. People can have their vehicle confiscated and taken off the road. That is until the vehicle is taken by low loader to an MOT station.
Better check your policy document as some now require an MOT be in place. Even though an MOT is not any guarantee that the vehicle is in lawful working order at any time other than at the time of being MOT tested.
Bob craven Lancs.
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Association for motor insurance companies produces video to highlight dangers of not buying their products, headline news!!
The question needs to be asked – why aren’t people getting insurance? Car insurance is basically a loss making industry – I remember reading somewhere that insurance companies tend to have a ratio of 1:1 of money took vs money spent.
If insurance companies reduced the cost of their policies to consumers – followed by reducing the extortionate costs with regards to minor repairs, then perhaps people would be more willing to pay for insurance? Perhaps this would also help cover any short falls?
The market needs shaking up.
In my 5 years of driving, I have paid the best part of £8,000 for insurance; I haven’t seen a return on that investment – and I hope I never have to.
David Weston, Corby
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