New hotspots data has shown a major shift in the uninsured driving landscape with parts of Leeds, Bristol, Salford and Manchester,overtaking Birmingham as worst affected areas.  

Leeds City Centre now tops alist of the UK's 15 most prevalent postal areasfor the issue. While four postcodes in Birmingham are still featured, the city no longer sits top of the list for the first time in over a decade. 

Top 15 hotspots for uninsured driving* 

The new data has been released by MIB (Motor Insurers' Bureau) ahead of the launch of Operation Drive Insured – a vital annual road safety campaign with police forces taking part in a national week of action (20 - 26 Nov) to get uninsured drivers off the road. 

Every 20 minutes someone in the UK is hit by an uninsured or hit-and-run driver and tragically, each day at least one person suffers injuries so severe they need life-long care.  

MIB is committed to reducing uninsured driving and working with partnersat theNPCC's National Roads Policing Operations, Intelligence and Investigations (NRPOII), andthe Operation Drive Insuredcampaign is one of the ways the problem is being tackled. 

Paul Farley, National Law Enforcement Manager at MIB, said:  

"Every day we see innocent road users suffer at the hands of reckless uninsured motorists who never shouldhave been on the road in the first place. Tackling this issueisn'tjust about getting people to pay premiums –we know those who deliberately flout the law and drive uninsured cause more collisions too,soit's about making roads safer and fairer for everyone. 

"We work closely with the police throughout the year but there will be an even greater focus on tackling the issue during Operation Drive Insured. Our message is simple: drive insured, or you will be caught." 

While Operation Drive Insured is taking place across the UK, roads police will be carrying out extra checks on motorists in problem areas, in a bid to tackle the scourge of uninsured drivers. 

During the week of action, police will useMIB's Motor Insurance Database (MID) which is a national record of all motor insurance policies, to see if driversare insured. MIB's teamcan also liaisewith police andinsurersto confirm the insurance status of vehicles. 

Uninsured drivers can have their vehicle seized (and potentially crushed), receive a £300 fixed penalty notice and six points on their licence. Furthermore, they could face court and receive an unlimited fine and/or a driving ban. A driving conviction can also impact job prospects. 

So far this year over 100,000 uninsured drivers have had their vehicle seized, with a third crushed.  

Uninsured driving has a significant economic impact, with an average of £53 being added to everyone's annual motor premiums to help compensate victims.  

Furthermore, MIB estimates all injuries caused by uninsured and hit-and-run drivers potentially costs the economy nearly £2.4 billion a year in emergency services, medical care, loss of productivity and human costs. 

Roads Minister Guy Opperman, said: 

"Road safety is at the heart of everything we do and it's crucial that everyone, from motorists to cyclists and pedestrians, can use our roads with confidence and peace of mind.  

"That's why it's good to see MIB launch this campaign, to hammer home the importance of being insured and help stop uninsured motorists from driving on our roads." 

Jo Shiner, Chief Constable and NPCC Lead for Roads Policing, said:  

"Having valid insurance is a requirement by law and something which must be factored into the costs of running a motor vehicle. We work closely with our partners, including MIB, to ensure motorists who do not insure their vehicles are identified and dealt with as quickly as possible on a daily basis. 

"Operation Drive Insured brings real focus to this issue every year and police officers up and down the country will be taking part. We are pleased to be supporting MIB with this important road safety initiative." 

Prevention is better than cure 

We know that not all uninured driving is intentional. In many cases, drivers may unwittingly drive without valid insurance because their policy has expired. It's important for people to stay on top of payments and to not assume their car-insurance policy will auto-renew. We are all busy and life administration can take a back seat. If you are unsure about your insurance status, it`s not too late to check and avoid being caught during Operation Drive Insured. You can check on the Motor Insurance Database (MID)- a database used by the police - for free at www.askmid.com

*Hotspots analysis based on over 18,000 MIB claims received nationally from victims of uninsured drivers between November 2021 to October 2023. Hotspots are based on an index, which compares volume of claims with local population.