Calls for tougher law on uninsured

By Neil Hodgson

MOTORISTS want the authorities to introduce tougher penalties for uninsured drivers.

Motor insurance comparison site comparethemarket.com says UK drivers pay on norm pounds 31 a year more on car insurance to cover uninsured drivers, a total of more than lb 500m.

That fig excludes the cost of accidents caused by uninsured drivers.

An online You Gov poll found that apart from the incremental price addition for a policy, 68% of motorists in an accident with an uninsured driver had to incur liability and either pay for the incident themselves (19%) or claim on their own insurance (49%), potentially jeopardising no-claims bonuses.

From the study sample more than one in 10 had been in an accident with an uninsured driver.

The norm fine for drive without insurance in the UK is just lb 250, and 79% of respondents felt this was too low.

Some 87% of motorists feel the authorities does not do sufficiency to prevent people drive without insurance.

Jeremy Moll, of comparethemarket.com said: "If the figure of illegal drivers decreases then the industry will have more flexibleness in pricing policies for law abiding motorists."