Courts soft on uninsured drivers
Published: 31st March 2008
Category: Statistics & Research, Crazy
Reader's Rage: [96votes]

New figures show that fewer uninsured drivers are being prosecuted and those who are face on average much smaller fines than they did 10 years ago. Cases fell from 397,133 in 1997 to 392,763 in 2005 despite one police force estimating up to 5 million motorists are now driving illegally. The government estimates there are more than 2 million causing 375,000 accidents a year.

The average fine has been reduced from £224 in 1997 to £177 in 2005. The Association of British Insurers says that uninsured drivers are 10 times more likely to have convictions for drink-driving and are 6 times more likely to be behind the wheel of an unroadworthy vehicle. They estimate uninsured drivers add an extra £25 to £30 onto the premium of every car in the country.

The average £177 fine is just 1/5th of the average cost of comprehensive car insurance which is £833 according to the AA and £400 for third party.

New sentencing rules for judges says that motorists without a license or insurance who kill at the wheel should escape jail. (How in the name of sanity is that in the public interest? I doubt the rule makes would think the same way if someone close to them was killed by an illegal motorist.)

Our comment: Risking an average fine of £177 makes breaking the law a no-brainer for many dishonest drivers - the alternative is to pay up to £1000 for insurance. As the law got tough on insured and licensed motorists for minor speeding offenses it become soft on highly dangerous uninsured drivers.

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