Drivers have been warned they could see their car insurance premiums skyrocket for breaking a major driving law, as well as face hefty penalties.
Motorists caught driving without valid insurance could see insurance premiums increase by an average of £1,000, with more serious offences resulting in a total driving ban.
The warning comes after Devon and Cornwall Police have started cracking down on uninsured driving, which peaks during the popular summer months.
The operation was in collaboration with the Motor Insurers’ Bureau, which focused on preventing uninsured driving across the South West of England.
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The police targeted uninsured driving across the southwest, which spikes during the Summer months
|GETTY/DEVON AND CORNWALL POLICE
Uninsured driving has been labelled one of the most serious problems across the UK, impacting Britons every 20 minutes, with at least one person being so seriously injured that they require lifelong care.
Sergeant James Gallienne, Devon and Cornwall Police, said: "At least one person, every day, is so seriously injured by an uninsured or hit and run driver that they require lifelong care.
"Operations like this aim to educate about and enforce the law in order to reduce the number of uninsured drivers on the road and reduce collisions. Devon and Cornwall remain safe places to live and visit, and we will continue to be proactive in keeping our road network safe."
During the operation, four vehicles were seized by the police for failing to be insured or having inadequate cover, while seven other vehicles were hit with fixed penalty notices for having no insurance.
The operation saw the police catch drivers travelling without valid car insurance across the southwest
| AVON AND SOMERSET POLICEIn addition, officers issued tickets and advice on other offences, which included criminal activities such as driving without an MOT, driving while disqualified, drug driving, defective tyres, recall to prison, an unrestrained child, and an insecure load.
The police shared: "Removing uninsured drivers from the road helps protect all road users from potential harm. Additionally, uninsured drivers are frequently linked to other criminal activities, including drug or drink driving, excessive speeding, and organised crime such as drug running."
Martin Saunders, head of uninsured driving prevention at MIB, explained that uninsured driving is a problem "every day of the year".
Despite this, he warned that during this busy summer period, there is a spike in uninsured cases. "We recommend that all motorists check they have adequate cover in place and that all details on their policy are as expected," he said.
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Saunders stated that the police specifically target certain areas of the region, which have become hotspots for illegal behaviours.
By doing this, it allows the police to not only target motorists who choose to drive uninsured but also provides them with an opportunity to educate those who are unaware.
He added: "We urge all motorists to check their insurance policy is in place, is appropriate for their needs and to reach out to their insurer if they are unsure on any part of their policy - we don’t want any driver to become uninsured in the first place.
"We will continue to work with police across the UK year-round to make sure that those choosing to drive uninsured have nowhere to hide."
Drivers caught travelling without car insurance could see premiums increase by £1,000
| GETTYDriving without insurance can have severe consequences that extend beyond a fixed penalty in the UK. The most common penalty for uninsured driving consists of a £300 fine as well as six points on a driving licence.
For many young drivers and those already with points on their licence, this could result in an "automatic disqualification". Other penalties for breaking the law include having a vehicle seized and potentially crushed, as well as being taken to court.
If taken to court, drivers could be slapped with an unlimited fine and a driving ban, with driving convictions showing up on background checks and impacting job prospects.
According to research, 138,000 uninsured drivers had their vehicles seized last year, which is roughly one every four minutes. One in every three cars seized by police for having no insurance is crushed and recycled.