Police target uninsured drivers during week of action

Uninsured drivers are to be targeted next week by Police Scotland, in partnership with the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB), in a week of action starting on Monday 16 October and running through to Sunday 22 October.

Police Scotland has advised all drivers to ensure they are covered by valid insurance, prior to the campaign starting on Monday.

Chief Superintendent Stewart Carle, Head of Road Policing for Police Scotland, said:  “Police Scotland is committed to keeping our roads safe to achieve the Scottish Government’s 2020 casualty reduction targets. Drivers without insurance are more likely to ‘hit-and-run’ following a collision rather than seek help, increasing the risk to victims. Our partners at MIB tell us that more than 26,000 people are injured in the UK every year by uninsured drivers, and so we will continue to target those drivers who present the greatest risk to other road users.”

“This vital campaign will be delivered through a combination of mobile and static road checks led by Road Policing officers and supported by Local Policing Teams across Scotland. Officers will be using the latest intelligence and data from partners to identify uninsured vehicles, and by focusing on those offenders we hope to minimise the inconvenience caused to the general public whilst maximising the effectiveness of the operation.

“The public can help too by telling the Police about suspected uninsured drivers – please contact us on our national non-emergency number 101 or through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

The MIB state that over 145,000 vehicles were seized in the UK during 2016. This represented a 20% increase in seizures from the year before.

Neil Drane, Head of Enforcement Services, at MIB said: “It’s clear that many people still don’t fully understand the insurance cover they have purchased. This can lead to them unwittingly driving without insurance. It’s important that you check your policy carefully before taking to the road, otherwise you risk having an unnecessary encounter with a police officer.”