W Midlands and W Yorkshire 'main hotspots for uninsured drivers'

Date: 14/9/2011

The West Midlands and West Yorkshire have been found to be the regions with the highest number of uninsured motorists.

A decline has been noted in the number of people driving in the UK without insurance; however, there are a couple of hotspots where the issue is still prominent.

According to research published by the Motor Insurers' Bureau (MIB), 17 of the 20 postcodes with the highest proportion of uninsured drivers can be found in the West Midlands and West Yorkshire.

It was revealed that the proportion of motorists without cover was as much as eight times higher in these two regions than the UK average, with Bordesley in Birmingham topping the list overall.

Ashton West, Chief Executive at MIB, said while individuals continue to drive without insurance, it will be those who have taken out a policy who will be left to foot the bill.

Indeed, Britons could find they are paying a higher premium in order to contribute towards the cost of accidents caused by those who are flouting the law.

However, the problem is largely improving, with Phil Gormley, Road Policing Lead Chief Constable at the Association of Chief Police Officers, saying: "Overall, there is good progress being made to reduce the number of vehicles being driven without insurance and today there are 500,000 fewer of these on the roads than five years ago."

Meanwhile, the conduct of people while behind the wheel is also getting better, with the Sainsbury's Car Insurance Driver Behaviour Index for 2011 - which was published in August - noting that the proportion of individuals using a mobile phone while in charge of a car fell from 11 per cent to six per cent over the last year.

Posted by Sarah Bailey