Uninsured Vehicles May Be Destroyed 29/11/2004

Under new Government proposals, police will be allowed to seize, and where appropriate destroy, uninsured vehicles.

At any one time, in the UK 5% of motorists on the road are uninsured, resulting in an extra burden on honest drivers of £30 on their premiums.

In "Seizure of vehicles being driven uninsured", the proposals suggest that the vehicle would be released after the driver can produce the correct insurance documentation and has paid a fine. The police would be able to destroy vehicles that were not collected within a prescribed period.

Road Safety Minister David Jamieson said: "Honest motorists are fed up with the menace of uninsured driving. Not only do they add about £30 to every insurance policy, they are also more likely to break other traffic law - such as driving dangerous vehicles. We're already making progress in reducing the number of people who drive uninsured, but these measures will bring that number down further."