You are here: Home » Crime Reduction » Traveling Safely » Casualty Reduction and Roads Policing » Road safety and driving awareness campaigns » Targeting motorists who are driving illegally

Targeting motorists who are driving illegally

Police will use the latest Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology to detect uninsured and unlicensed drivers.  As well as having their vehicle seized, those who break these laws can expect to have their vehicles impounded which, can ultimately, lead to their vehicle being crushed.

ANPR is linked directly to the DVLA and Motor Insurance Bureau (MIB) database’s which provide the police with details of vehicles/drivers that are unlicensed, uninsured and untaxed.

Humberside Police seize over 170 vehicles each month using this legislation forty per cent of the vehicles seized are never recovered by their owners.

PC Keith WARD of the Roads Policing Unit said: “Uninsured drivers present a significant risk to other road users.  They are ten times more likely to have been convicted of drink driving, six times more likely to be driving an un-roadworthy vehicle and are three times more likely to have been convicted of dangerous driving.” 

“Unlicensed drivers are more likely to be involved in road collisions.  As an organisation whose job it is to help reduce offending, collisions and road casualties, Humberside Police is committed to tackling this problem and taking uninsured and unlicensed drivers off the road.”

Drivers who are found to be driving illegally, without the requisite documentation could have their vehicle seized.  There is a £20 charge per day for storage of a vehicle and a £150 recovery fee.  Proof of valid driving licence and insurance policy must be presented.  If a vehicle is not recovered within 14 working days, then it can be crushed or sold.

PC WARD said, “Research shows that people who drive without documents are risk takers who are likely to commit serious road traffic offences which could lead to causing a collision, injury or even death.  In addition to that, those that do take out insurance are paying higher premiums to compensate for those that don’t.  The government also lose around £147 million per year in lost road tax revenue”.

Anyone who has any information about individuals who are driving without legal documentation or whilst disqualified are encouraged to contact Humberside Police on 0845 6060 222 or to ring Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. 

Video

FACT FILE

UNINSURED DRIVERS

• Up to one million motorists are thought to be driving illegally without insurance.
• One in ten drivers have been involved in an accident with an uninsured driver.13% of young drivers think that it is acceptable to drive without insurance because it doesn’t harm anyone.
  NB.  Young drivers can within 12 months of passing their driving test, take the Pass Plus training with an accredited Approved Driving Instructor.  Completion of this course can reduce their insurance premiums by up to 50%.  For further information they can contact DVLA or local driving schools.
• Accidents involving uninsured motorists adds £30 to £60 to the premiums of other motorists.

UNLICENSED DRIVERS

• Around 1.5 million drivers drive without a valid driving licence.
• There are around 6,300 casualties annually as a result of crashes involving unlicensed drivers, of which around 900 are killed or seriously injured.

UNTAXED VEHICLES

• It is estimated that there are around 1.5 million untaxed vehicles on our roads.
• Around one third of those vehicles evading vehicle excise duty are motor cycles.
• DVLA and some local authorities use devolved powers to seize untaxed vehicles.

MOT CERTIFICATES

• Around 10% of all vehicles have no valid vehicle MOT test certificate.

DISQUALIFIED DRIVERS

• Research has found that driving whilst disqualified was associated with a weightier motoring offence record (more occasions in court, more convictions and more disqualifications).
• Statistically, this type driver is more likely to have a criminal record.