Tough New Powers to tackle the selfish minority of uninsured drivers who cost law-abiding motorists £400m each year have been set out by Road Safety Minister Jim Fitzpatrick.
The new measures will make it an offence to keep an uninsured vehicle-rather than just to drive when uninsured-making it easier to catch uninsured drivers and keep them off the roads.
Under the new system the DVLA will work in partnership with the insurance industry to identify uninsured vehicles. Motorists will receive a letter telling them that their vehicle appears to be uninsured and warning them that they will be fined unless they insure it within a set period. If the keeper fails to insure the vehicle they will be given a £100 fine. If the vehicle remains uninsured-regardless of whether the fine is paid-it could then be seized and destroyed.
The Government has already given the police powers to seize and destroy vehicles being driven uninsured, along with improved access to the Motor Insurance Database to enhance their capability to detect uninsured driving by using Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANRP) equipment. Police removed around 150, 000 vehicles in 2007-more than 400 a day.

What are your thoughts on this article? Send your views to Britannia Driving School by using the comments link below: