Despite the overall drop in uninsured driving in the last five years, the rate of progress to reduce the UK’s level of uninsured driving is being held back by illegal motorists in the West Midlands and West Yorkshire, according to new figures released by MIB, the body which manages the Motor Insurance Database (MID) and provides compensation to innocent victims of uninsured and untraced accidents.

The numbers of drivers with no insurance in these regions are overrepresented by as much as 8 times the national average, putting them in the spotlight for vehicle seizure, wheel clamping, fines and prosecution.

Since 2005, police enforcement at the roadside has removed more than 750,000 uninsured vehicles and levels are expected to be reduced even further with the introduction of the continuous insurance law earlier this year.  Using the MID, the police and DVLA are able to systematically identify vehicles without insurance and take action. 

Since June this year registered keepers of cars, vans, motorbikes, motorhomes and trucks without insurance have received letters warning them to either take out insurance or to officially declare the vehicle off the road.  These new measures are allowing the police to be more efficient and focus their efforts on tackling the hard core of offenders and at the same time including sufficient safeguards to protect law-abiding motorists.

An interactive map of the UK’s top 20 uninsured driving hotspots is available to download at http://stayinsured.askmid.com/hotspot.html