Major crackdown on uninsured drivers sees almost 100 vehicles seized by police

Road policing boss Inspector Andy Trotter today warned drivers without the proper documents: ‘you will be caught’.

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Among the vehicles seized was a new Range Rover and a public bus carrying passengers.

Community leaders praised the road safety campaign, aptly named Operation Drive Insured, with some fearing the seizures were just the ‘tip of the iceberg’.

Officers said more operations were now in the pipeline.

Uninsured motorists risk a £5,000 fine, up to eight points on their licence, and a possible driving ban on top of a hefty fee to reclaim their vehicle.

The week-long crackdown saw 95 vehicles across the county seized for no insurance and often other driving-related offences.

They included 29 in Eastern Division, which includes Blackburn with Darwen, Burnley, Hyndburn. Pendle, Rossendale and Ribble Valley.

There were further vehicles impounded in Chorley.

Among the seizures were the Range Rover in Blackburn and bus in Lower Darwen, where the driver was also found to have no valid licence.

Rossendale and Darwen MP Jake Berry said: “I absolutely welcome this operation as failing to insure your car puts everyone else’s premium up.

“If you can afford to buy a new Range Rover, you can afford to insure it.”

Colne and West Craven PC Nigel Keates said: “People who don’t insure their vehicles often don’t tax or MOT them either and are likely to drive unsafe ones in a dangerous manner.”

The operation was part of a national crackdown involving several police forces, the Motor Insurers’ Bureau and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency.

East Lancashire includes two of the top 50 UK hotspots for uninsured drivers, the Nelson BB9 postcode at 35th and Blackburn BB1 at 44th, both with more than three times the national average of improperly documented vehicles.

Road safety campaigner Terry Hannon has campaigned on road safety issues since his 22-year-old son Matthew died in a high-speed accident in Blackburn in 2006.

He said: “I welcome this operation 100 per cent.

“People who can’t be bothered to insure their cars often don’t bother to make certain their vehicles are safe and drive them recklessly.

“I reckon the 95 vehicles seized are just the tip of the iceberg of uninsured and undocumented drivers in Lancashire.”

Blackburn MP Kate Hollern said: “I welcome this operation as a significant contribution to the safety of East Lancashire’s roads.”

Motorists caught driving without insurance face a Fixed Penalty Notice of £200 and six points on their licence, or a maximum fine of £5,000 and six to eight points if taken to court, where a discretionary driving ban can be imposed.

The North West is estimated to have 163,000 uninsured vehicles out of 3.8million, a rate of 4.29 per cent, which is the highest regional proportion outside London at 6.1 per cent.

Drivers have to present a full set of valid driving documents and pay a hefty fee to reclaim their seized vehicles or they are sold or crushed depending on their condition.

Insp Trotter said: “The Operation Drive Insured has been a really successful campaign.

“Ninety-five vehicles have been taken off Lancashire’s streets.

“The operation has seen a crackdown on rogue motorists attempting to evade driving laws.

“We will not give up in our bid to tackle illegal drivers and will continue to conduct similar operations in the future.

“If you know of an uninsured, untaxed or unfit vehicle being used on Lancashire’s roads, please contact police.

“With technology including the police’s widespread use of Automatic Number Plate Recognition the message is you will be caught.”