Driving without insurance soars by 10 per cent

[dutchman]

The number of uninsured drivers on UK roads has soared by a ‘worrying’ 10 per cent in just a year, alarming new official figures reveal today.

Compensation pay-outs because of accidents involving uninsured drivers increased from 21,972 in July 2014 to 24,213 in July this year.

That represents a year-on-year monthly increase of 2,241 or 10.2 per cent, according to figures from the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB).

Significantly, the rise slams into sharp reverse a steady fall in the problem that until now had seen uninsured driver numbers almost half over a decade.

The sudden reversal has prompted fears that the soaring cost of insurance – which can cost between £1,000 and £2,000 for a ‘high risk’ young driver - may be tempting younger drivers to ‘chance it’ and drive without a proper policy in place. A third of all uninsured drivers are aged under 30.

The Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB) compensates innocent victims of accidents with uninsured drivers.

So concerned is the bureau about the reversal of the downward trend that it is today (MON) launching in conjunction with the police a new national awareness campaign in a bid to halt the rise.

The MIB’s full year figures suggest the rise started modestly in around 2013-14 but has since accelerated significantly.

Based on the number of claims it has received, the MIB estimates that the total number of uninsured drivers on UK roads rose in 2014 to 1.03million – up 20,000 or 1.98 per cent from 1.01million in 2013.

Experts believe a number of factors are contributing to the rise including the high cost of insurance for younger ‘high risk’ drivers – which can exceed £1,000 and sometimes top £2,000 - which may tempt some to ‘chance it’. However, many insurers do now offer policies which involve having an electronic ‘minder’ in the car to limit the times when the car is driven, such as at night, to reduce the risk of a claim while also cutting the cost of insurance.

Other factors an increase in the number of vehicles on the roads, cheaper fuel which encourages more driving, ‘cold calling’ which encourages people to claim, and ‘stretched’ police resources impacting on their ability to seize uninsured vehicles.

[rebbonk]

The fact that 3rd party insurance is often more costly than fully comp' might also have something to do with it!