It has been revealed that Great Britain has one of the worst records in Western Europe for uninsured drivers. It is estimated that one in 20 drivers are not covered by car insurance or van insurance.

The managing director of a commercial vehicle insurance provider said: “The UK has one of the worst records in Western Europe for uninsured driving. Of the 40 million vehicles on the road it is estimated that 2 million, that's 1 in 20, are being driven without insurance and that puts an extra £30 on the premium of every honest motorist.”

This huge number also has a devastating effect on hit and runs and car accidents. 160 people are killed and 23,000 are injured every year by uninsured drivers. Statistics show that such drivers are less likely to stop after a hit, because they are worried they will get caught driving without insurance.

Driver told to put it out

One example of a driver without van insurance is the story of Gareth Jardine, who drove his friends van to buy cigarettes despite never having passed his test and not having any van insurance.

Jardine was pulled over by Hartlepool police after he was spotted driving erratically. He was fined £150 by magistrates and given six penalty points after it was discovered he did not have a valid driving licence or insurance.

He was also ordered to pay £50 costs and a £15 victim surcharge. Gareth said of the matter: “It was a stupid thing to do.”

Meanwhile, van insurance companies have told policyholders who are hoping to sell their vehicle, that buyers may be put off from purchasing the motor if the interior is exposed to cigarette smoke.

British Car Auctions manager Tim Naylor said: "Refraining from smoking in a vehicle will eliminate the risk of discolouring and leaving scorch marks in the ashtray or on upholstery.” He added that these things "will put buyers off" - even if they smoke themselves.

The advice comes after figures released revealed that van sales dropped by 71.6% with buyers preferring to buy second hand models.

Uninsured drivers about to get burnt

Stories like Jardine’s will soon be hard to come by, especially as the ride for uninsured motorists is about to get very bumpy indeed. This is because the police are cracking down on drivers without cover, and they are getting tough about it.

For several years the police have had the authority to crush or dispose vehicles found driven on UK roads without any insurance. This law is now about to get serious. By 2011, police will have the right to crush any vehicles which are being kept without insurance, and not necessarily on the roads.

In 2007, over 150,000 uninsured motors were seized, and of those 60,000 were either crushed or disposed of in some other manner.

The police are also using new means of technology to make tracking drivers without insurance easier. The Motor Insurance Database (MID) was set up only a few years by insurance firms and holds the details of all vehicles and drivers insured in Great Britain.

The DVLA makes over 1.0 million enquiries per month in support of their Electronic Vehicle Licensing operation and  the police make 3.8 million enquiries a month to the MID via instant electronic communication, meaning the net is closing fast on offending motorists.

Currently, an uninsured driver will probably only be identified by a police roadside camera with number plate recognition facility, but the new proposed laws will see the MID closely liaise with the DVLA to identify any driver without insurance.

“It just isn't worth the risk of owning a vehicle without the appropriate road risk insurance, be it van insurance, car insurance or truck insurance. The consequences of getting caught without the required road risk cover are going to be very costly for the motorist - and getting caught is going to become increasingly likely,” the spokesperson for the insurance provider company reminded drivers.