Danger to us all ...

Jan 26 2008 by Andrew Baldwin, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

UNINSURED drivers are a menace to us all. And what’s more, the chances are they will not have a licence either or be taxed.

In addition, the cars they drive are invariably barely roadworthy.

Every one of these cars represents a danger to the lives of ordinary law-abiding road users.

The Motor Insurers’ Bureau reports that uninsured drivers on UK roads cause 160 deaths on the road every year and 23,000 injuries.

As Clr Martyn Bolt, Kirklees Council’s cabinet member for transport, rightly points out, the figures in today’s Examiner are so alarming that a police crackdown is sorely needed.

More than one in five cars in Huddersfield town centre are uninsured.

And it’s costing us all – to the tune of about £30 per policy bought by honest drivers, according to industry figures.

Increasing the use of measures such as automatic number plate recognition and confiscation of cars are entirely appropriate tactics to rid streets of these uninsured drivers and their vehicles.

The maximum fine for driving without insurance is £5,000 and possible disqualification.

However, magistrates rarely hand out such heavy penalties.

In fact, the average fine for each successful case has fallen from £242 in 1997 to just £152.

At levels like this uninsured drivers think it is well worth taking the risk.

It is a situation that cannot be allowed to continue.

Tough sentences are needed to serve as a deterrent to others who are prepared to flout driving bans and drive their clapped-out vehicles at high speed with no regard for others.