Crackdown by police to make roads safer in Birmingham gets underway this week
The campaign sees police clamp down on dangerous uninsured drivers
Last updated 23rd Nov 2022
Police have launched their 'Operation Drive Insured' this week to stop dangerous uninsured motorists and protect road users.
And they are specifically focusing on areas such as Birmingham which has been found to have the most uninsured drivers in the country.
Drivers in the city are being urged to check their motor insurance is valid or face losing their vehicle.
Every 20 minutes someone in the UK is hit by an uninsured or hit-and-run driver and tragically, each day at least one person suffers an injury so severe that they require life-long care.
Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB) which is a not-for-profit organisation that compensates people who are hit by uninsured and hit-and-run drivers, received claims from over 26,000 victims in 2021.
Its records show that uninsured and hit-and-run driving rates are more than double the national average across parts of the West Midlands. 4.1% of MIB’s claims are Birmingham-based, even though the city represents just 1.7% of the UK population.
Paul Farley, Law Enforcement Manager at MIB, said: “Birmingham is a top hotspot for uninsured driving, which sadly means local road users are at increased risk of being involved in a collision caused by an illegal motorist.
“We’re working round the clock with West Midlands Police to seize uninsured drivers’ vehicles in a bid to improve the safety of public roads. We hope Op Drive Insured sends a clear message that no one is above the law and those who choose to drive without insurance will not get away with it.”
Simon Foster, Police and Crime Commissioner at West Midlands Police, said: “Many people, like me, will be deeply concerned about the number of deliberately uninsured drivers in the West Midlands. These people are reckless, thoughtless and have no regard for others.
“Rest assured, West Midlands Police will deal with those people that do not feel the law applies to them, robustly, so as to ensure they are held to account for their actions.”