New fines for uninsured drivers

The Home Office has launched a pilot scheme that will see £200 fixed penalties for uninsured drivers. In addition, they are already studying plans that could see drivers forced to undertake community service. The pilot will see 23 police services across the UK using the new Motor Insurance Database to check at the roadside whether drivers are insured; and if they are not, they will receive the fixed penalty and 3 points on their licence. Police will still have the option of sending drivers to a magistrate’s court, where the maximum fine remains £1000. David Harlow, MD of InsureYourMotor.com is not impressed with the new penalty scheme, he comments: “This proposed £200 fine is ridiculous, the average insurance policy costs at least 3 times that amount. If anything, this will encourage more people to avoid paying their insurance, it certainly won’t deter drivers. Surely the fine needs to be much higher, to make people think twice.” Spokesman Malcolm Tarling from The Association of British Insurers (ABI) said the scheme had to be placed in context, he comments: “We welcome anything which uses technology to apprehend and fine uninsured drivers. While the £200 figure might seem low, currently the fines are based on the ability of the driver to pay. We may well see more money generated by this scheme. The fact that they are far more likely to be caught and the fact that the fine is £200 regardless of their financial circumstances may well make drivers think twice.” It is estimated that 1 in 20 drivers in the UK are uninsured, whether this figure increases or decreases as a result of this new penalty scheme remains to be seen.