Uninsured drivers targeted by police

The Roads Policing Group used modern technology alongside tried-and-tested tactics of get as many uninsured motorists off the road as possible during Operation Belt.

During the first day of the operation to clamp down on uninsured drivers, which ran in the York and Tadcaster area:

Five vehicles were seized by police for having no insurance, no tax or both and taken away on tow trucks to be impounded.

Two vehicles were prohibited for defects including having no brake lights, indicators and broken suspension. The owners will have to get all the faults rectified before the prohibition is lifted.

One driver was arrested for disqualified driving, drug driving and possession of cannabis after he was stopped for having no insurance. He was released under investigation pending blood results.

Drivers were reported for various offences including no insurance, driving an overweight vehicle and number plate offences.

Traffic officers worked closely with vehicle examiners from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA).

Sergeant Mark Patterson, who led the first day’s operation, said: “By deploying our resources in a particular way, we’ve been able to identify a number of uninsured drivers in a short space of time, stop and deal with them, then confiscate the illegally-driven vehicle.

“But yesterday’s operation shows how stopping someone for being uninsured often uncovers more serious offences, such as driving under the influence or drug possession. This operation lets us deal with them in one fell swoop.

“We know from official statistics that motorists who don’t have insurance are disproportionately likely to cause a serious crash, so targeting them makes North Yorkshire’s roads safer for everyone.”

There are an estimated one million uninsured drivers un the UK, and in 2018 the Motor Insurance Bureau recorded 26,000 personal injury claims relating to collisions involving uninsured drivers – equivalent to one person in the UK being injured every 20 minutes.

The Roads Policing Group will hold more dedicated days of action in the near future to catch illegal motorists across the county.

Sgt Patterson added: “If you drive without insurance, we’re onto you. The tactics and technology we’re using are virtually impossible to evade.

“We will catch you, we will seize your vehicle and you could start 2020 with an extremely costly court appearance. It’s really not worth the risk.”