Gloucestershire Constabulary supports Motor Insurer's Bureau’s Operation Drive Insured campaign

Gloucestershire Constabulary is supporting Operation Drive Insured, a national week of action to stop uninsured drivers and seize uninsured vehicles so our roads are safer and fairer.

Government figures show the economic cost of uninsured driving, including compensation for victims, emergency services, medical costs and loss of productivity, is £1 billion a year. Tackling this issue not only keeps our roads safe but reduces the financial burden on UK citizens.

New hotspot data issued by the Motor Insurer's Bureau shows that the top uninsured driving area in Gloucestershire is the GL1 postcode closely followed by the GL5, GL7 and GL4 postcodes.

An uninsured vehicle is seized every four minutes across the UK, with almost 120,000 seized so far this year. Around 1,000 of those vehicle seizures were made in Gloucestershire alone.

Not everyone means to drive uninsured, but life can be busy and small slip-ups can happen. 

Unfortunately, the consequences will be the same regardless of your intention so a quick check of your policy could save a lot of stress – and expense – in the long run. 

Uninsured drivers receive a £300 fixed penalty notice, six points on their licence, whilst their seized vehicle may even end up crushed. If your case goes to court, you may also receive an unlimited fine and even a driving ban. 

Being caught driving uninsured can affect every part of your life – a loss of your independence, an inability to care for dependants (such as taking your children to school), and even affected job prospects as a driving conviction can show up on background searches.  

Here are a few easy mistakes worth double-checking:

• Forgotten when your insurance expires? Check your renewal date today.
• Assumed your policy auto-renews? Not all do, and expired payment cards can cause lapses.
• Kept a vehicle off the road without declaring it SORN with the DVLA? Make sure it’s officially off-road.
• Thought fully comprehensive cover lets you drive someone else’s car? It often doesn’t - check your policy first for coverage and any restrictions.
• Using your car for work or deliveries on a social-only policy? You’ll likely need commuting, business or hire-and-reward cover.

If you’re not sure about your insurance status, check today for free by visiting: https://www.mib.org.uk/driveinsured  

Martin Saunders, Head of Enforcement at MIB said: "Whilst we focus on uninsured driving every day of the year, Operation Drive Insured is a key moment in the year to draw attention to the devastation this issue causes to our society. 

"Our aim is to end uninsured driving, which means working closely with the police across the UK to remove dangerous vehicles from our roads. At the same time, we are ramping up our support for motorists who want to drive legally, providing them with the knowledge they need to have the right cover in place."