Crack-down planned on uninsured motorists

Posted :16-03-2005

People driving without insurance are more likely to be caught by a new, faster database.

The Motor Insurance Database (MID) is to be upgraded by the Association of British Insurers (ABI) and the Motor Insurers Bureau (MIB) to cut the time it takes to update motor insurance details.

In August 2004 the Greenaway report recommend a new enforcement regime to battle the UK's problem of uninsured driving and the upgrade should enable insurance details for private motor businesses to be updated within seven days instead of the current 14 days.

The move is also set to bring down insurance costs by reducing the number of incidents involving uninsured drivers.

Recent statistics revealed that uninsured drivers cost other motorists around £600 million in added premiums every year, but by improving the database, police will be more able to crack-down on the problem.

"We believe this new requirement will help deliver Professor Greenaway's vision of driving the uninsured from our roads", said Justin Jacobs, the ABI's head of motor insurance and risk pricing.

He added: "We believe that this new requirement would be challenging for the market to achieve, but is necessary and proportionate to ensure that the database is 'fit for purpose'."

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