Road policing units across Scotland will be mounting Operation Drive Insured (21-27 January 2019) in a week of enhanced operations to remove uninsured drivers from Scottish roads.

MIB (Motor Insurers’ Bureau) estimates each year in the UK around 130 people are killed and over 26,000 are left injured as a result of uninsured and hit and run drivers.

One contributing factor behind this dangerous activity is because those driving with insurance are encouraged to display safer behaviour and meet road legal requirements to help keep policy costs down.

Evidence also shows uninsured drivers are often involved in a wide range of criminal activity. Every year MIB records a large volume of incidents where an uninsured driver is found without a valid driving licence or using an untaxed or stolen vehicle. Records also show a number of offenders are caught driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

“A driver with no valid insurance has no legal right to be on the road and removing them undoubtedly makes roads safer. The increased activity during Operation Drive Insured should get more of these dangerous drivers off our roads.” – Neil Drane, Head of Enforcement at MIB.

Using data from the Motor Insurance Database (MID) – a central record of all UK motor insurance policies – police can easily identify and stop motorists that appear to be uninsured. MIB’s police helpline supports roadside officers by investigating further and liaising with insurers to confirm whether there is valid insurance in place or not. 

In Scotland it’s estimated that there are around 40,000 uninsured drivers. In 2018, MIB’s Police Helpline received over 10,000 calls from Scottish Officers at the roadside with a driver of a vehicle where the insurance status was in question, resulting in thousands of uninsured vehicle seizures.

“Police Scotland work in partnership with the Motor Insurers Bureau throughout the year and tackling uninsured drivers continues to be a priority for us. During this campaign we will increase our focus, to not only detect, but hopefully deter motorists from driving with no insurance. The legislation is there to protect all road users and if a vehicle is driven without a valid insurance policy, in common with other road traffic offences, there is an obvious road safety risk, additionally the minimum fine for an insurance offence is £300 and six penalty points on their licence.” – Superintendent Louise Blakelock, Deputy Head of Road Policing at Police Scotland.

MIB supports victims of uninsured and untraced hit and run drivers by providing a last resort for claims and compensation. Each year the organisation receives thousands of claims from victims of uninsured drivers, with hundreds of people who have suffered catastrophic, life changing injuries. The annual cost to provide services to compensate victims of uninsured and untraced hit and run drivers comes to £400 million, which is paid for by the motor insurance premiums of all law-abiding motorists. 

Any driver found without insurance during Operation Drive Insured is likely to have their vehicle seized, get six points on their licence, a £300 fine and could face court prosecution. Police also plan to carry out checks for a range of additional road traffic offences.

If a member of the public suspects a person is driving without insurance, they can report it to their local police force or anonymously to CrimeStoppers.