Crackdown on ‘menace’ of drivers with no insurance

POLICE have urged motorists to check they are insured to drive ahead of a week-long crackdown on the ‘menace’ of uninsured drivers.

Officers will use the latest intelligence to target those driving without insurance.

They are conducting Operation Drive Insured, which runs from today until Sunday in partnership with the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB).

Chief Superintendent Stewart Carle, head of road policing for Police Scotland, said: ‘This campaign will be delivered through a combination of mobile and static road checks, involving all road policing officers across Scotland with support from colleagues across the country.

‘Officers will be using the latest intelligence to target potential uninsured drivers and hot spots. 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

‘The honest motorist is penalised’

higher premiums as a result of claims arising from uninsured losses.

‘The MIB says more than 29,000 people are injured every year by uninsured drivers. Police Scotland will continue to target uninsured drivers, as they present an unnecessary risk to other road users.’

The MIB said 142,000 uninsured vehicles were seized in the UK last year, 8,065 of them by Police Scotland.

Paul Bennett, MIB national police liaison officer, said: ‘Police Scotland is extremely pro-active about tackling uninsured driving. This is the second year running for Operation Drive Insured with Police Scotland and we want to use this as an opportunity to highlight the importance of making sure you are correctly insured for each and every journey.”

Alastair Ross, head of public policy for Scotland at the Association of British Insurers, said: ‘Uninsured drivers make the roads more dangerous places. We wholeheartedly support Police Scotland’s action to drive this menace off our roads.’