Big Drop In Illegal Drivers Due To New Confiscation Powers

Sunday, 7. December 2008

There are now fewer illegal drivers on our roads according to a recent operation undertaken by fifty two police forces throughout the UK under the operation name of V79. During the operation 6,689 motorists were randomly stopped and results compared to a similar operation carried out in 2006. The number of drivers stopped without valid vehicle tax or licence fell by half. The number of vehicles without a current MOT fell from 4.2% to 1.5% and uninsured drivers from 1.9% to 1.2%. The joint initiative was conducted by the police and government. Road safety minister Jim Fitzpatrick explained that uninsured drivers add £30 per annum to every motorist’s insurance premium and it is estimated that uninsured and untraced drivers kill 160 people each year and injure 23,000. New confiscation powers given to the police when a driver is found to have no insurance means that 170,000 vehicles were confiscated in 2007. Admitting that they need to do more the minister confirmed the introduction of a new offence – being the registered keeper of an uninsured vehicle so there is no excuse for any vehicle not to have insurance. By Graham Hill