The deaths figure caused by uninsured drivers has increased by almost a third over the last six years whilst offenders have been receiving softer penalties. Issued fines for driving whilst uninsured have dropped by 17% since 1997, decreasing from £224 to £185, however, uninsured drivers are killing a higher number of people (4 per week).

The Government has published these statistics as they prepare to crack down on reckless driving, including texting, applying make-up and drinking coffee at the wheel. They will also be looking at uninsured drivers, and it is estimated that there are up to 1.5 million of them in Britain!

Under the new laws that came into force on Monday 18 August, anyone causing death by driving while unlicensed, disqualified or un-insured will be looking at a sentence of up to 2 years in prison. Previous rules only permitted The present rules courts to fine uninsured drivers up to £5,000 and did not include the power to impose custodial sentences.

Several road safety experts and MPs have been condemning the initiative as “too little, too late”.
They refer to a study that showed 208 people died in accidents in 2006 caused by uninsured drivers, whereas there were 160 in 2000, which is the first year where accurate figures are available.

According to the Motor Insurers’ Bureau, uninsured drivers cost the insurance industry around £500 million a year in claims adding approximately £30 to all car insurance policyholders annual premiums.

The Government expects somewhere in the region of 150 motorists per year to be jailed after being convicted of death by careless driving. Equally, motorists causing fatal accidents while on their mobiles, putting on their make up or even having a drink could also also face jail sentences of up to five years.

A spokeswoman for the Department for Transport said: “Uninsured driving is absolutely unacceptable. That is why the Government gave the police increased powers to seize and crush uninsured cars, which they used to seize 450 vehicles a day in 2007.

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