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The issue of driving without insurance has come under the spotlight recently, with Police Scotland and the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB) running a joint initiative to raise awareness of the issue and also to catch drivers committing the offence.
Operation Drive Insured Scotland is a week-long initiative that runs from 22 – 28 January 2018.
“This campaign will be delivered through a combination of mobile and static road checks, involving all Road Policing officers across Scotland with support from divisional colleagues across the entire country,” explained Chief Superintendent Stewart Carle, Head of Road Policing for Police Scotland.
"Officers will be using the latest intelligence to target potential uninsured drivers and hotspots, and by doing this we hope to minimise the inconvenience caused to the general public while maximising the effectiveness of the operation,” he added. “Ultimately, the honest motorist is penalised by having to pay higher premiums as a result of claims arising from uninsured losses. Campaigns such as Operation Drive Insured aim to decrease this negative impact for all honest motorists while contributing to the overall safety of our roads.”
Police Scotland has also called on members of public to report any suspicions they have about uninsured driving.
Where the police suspect that someone is driving without valid insurance they can contact the MIB Police Helpline to confirm the vehicle’s insurance status. If the MIB confirm there is no valid insurance then police have the power to seize the vehicle.
Figures from the MIB show that in 2017 142,000 vehicles were seized across the UK, and 8,065 of these were seized by officers from Police Scotland.
If insurance does exist but the vehicle is being used outwith the terms of the policy, then MIB can notify the relevant insurance company, which will then carry out its own investigations and may ultimately cancel the policy.
“Police Scotland are extremely pro-active about tackling uninsured driving,” commented Paul Bennett, MIB’s National Police Liaison officer. “In the last three years alone they have seized nearly 23,000 uninsured vehicles. This is the second year running for Op Drive Insured with Police Scotland and we want to use this as an opportunity to highlight the importance of making sure that you are correctly insured for each and every journey you take. A simple check of your policy before taking to the road can mean you avoid having that unnecessary encounter with a police officer.”
The MIB highlights that while some people take the deliberate decision to drive without taking out the necessary insurance, many other drivers are not intentionally breaking the law but have the wrong type of insurance for their cirumstances.
However, the consequences of being found guilty of uninsured driving are severe and therefore drivers should always make sure they are clear exactly what their insurance policy covers and what it doesn’t. In addition to having their vehicle seized, drivers found guilty of driving without insurance could receive:
- six penalty points on their driving licence,
- a fixed penalty of £300, and
- a fee to release the car.
If you have been charged with driving without insurance, or other driving offences, then contact our specialist criminal defence lawyers today.
