As UK police begin a week of action to keep our roads safe, new hotspot data has uncovered the worst offending areas for uninsured driving, with Thurrock in Essex leading the pack.

Data released today by MIB (Motor Insurers’ Bureau), the not-for-profit that exists to protect people from the devastation of uninsured and hit-and-run drivers, marks the start of the annual ‘Operation Drive Insured’ campaign. The week-long road safety initiative, running 10-16 November, sees MIB collaborate with all UK police forces to remove uninsured vehicles from the road and educate well-meaning motorists on the often-innocent mistakes they may be making.

Government figures show the economic cost of uninsured driving, including compensation for victims, emergency services, medical costs and loss of productivity, is £1 billion a year. Tackling this issue not only keeps our roads safe but reduces the financial burden on UK citizens.

Whilst RM19 in Thurrock tops the leaderboard for uninsured driving defendants, West Midlands postal areas account for five of the top 15 hotspots, with areas of Peterborough, Manchester, Belfast and Havering also making an appearance.

Top 15 hotspots for uninsured driving

Based on 2 years of MIB claim data – ranked by defendants per 1,000 population

Interestingly, 30 claims against uninsured drivers from CR0 in Croydon were submitted to MIB over a 2-year period - the highest number in one postal district in the UK. However, due to the dense population of the area, it only ranked 169th on the hotspot list.

Tackling uninsured driving across the UK

An uninsured vehicle is seized every four minutes across the UK, with almost 120,000 seized so far this year. However, Operation Drive Insured unites MIB and police forces in tackling the issue through targeted enforcement and public education.

Road policing units across the UK will be carrying out additional checks on motorists in problem areas throughout the week. Forces will utilise data provided by MIB to focus their efforts. This will include:

• Navigate, the central record of all active motor insurance policies which is managed by MIB.
• Operation Tutelage markers, where cars passing ANPR cameras on previous occasions have been compared to data held on Navigate. Uninsured vehicles with a marker are then flagged to police and dealt with roadside.
• Predictive Movements, to narrow down the expected movements of known uninsured vehicles.

Whilst drivers who purposely flout the law will continue to be tackled by police, MIB is committed to reducing uninsured driving as part of its five-year strategy, Accelerating to Zero. Alongside enforcement activity, MIB is highlighting common insurance mistakes and uninsured driving consequences, enabling drivers who aim to be law-abiding to make informed decisions about their motor policies.

Protecting the victims of uninsured driving: Cahal’s story

In 2021, Cahal was just five miles from catching a ferry in Holyhead, when his life changed forever. The former British Army Officer was cycling from London to Dublin when an uninsured driver collided with him whilst driving at 70mph. The driver fled the scene, leaving Cahal for dead.

From the point of impact, Cahal was thrown into the air, landing 20 metres away on the side of the road. A passing motorist, who initially thought Cahal’s lifeless form was debris before realizing it was a body, called the emergency services.

The incident left Cahal with catastrophic injuries, including a broken back and pelvis, whilst his right leg bone was smashed above the ankle. Doctors spent 22 hours operating on him over the following two days. He had to learn to walk again and wore a neck brace for five-and-a-half months. He had an arterial skin graft from his left arm to help patch up the catastrophic damage to his smashed leg, and it was touch and go whether he would end up losing his leg. Four years and two further major operations on from the life-changing event, the bone in this leg has only just fused.

Cahal went from being a fit and active man to feeling imprisoned in his own home. Confined to the ground floor by his injuries, he was unable to climb stairs or even make himself a cup of tea. His wife cared for him round the clock and had to arrange a hospital bed for the living room so he could recover in his own home.

Four years on, Cahal says "MIB got me the best possible experts and professionals to help in my recovery. This gave me the best chance of success, to make the optimal recovery from such catastrophic injuries.

“Without the help and constant support of MIB, I wouldn’t have been able to make the almost miraculous recovery that I have. In short, their support and the brilliant surgeon of the NHS have given me back a quality of life that seemed an almost impossible dream while lying in hospital after the accident.”

Watch Cahal's full story here.

Make sure you’re protected

Not everyone means to drive uninsured, but life can be busy and small slip-ups can happen. Unfortunately, the consequences will be the same regardless of your intention so a quick check of your policy could save a lot of stress – and expense – in the long run.

Uninsured drivers receive a £300 fixed penalty notice, six points on their licence, whilst their seized vehicle may even end up crushed. If your case goes to court, you may also receive an unlimited fine and even a driving ban. Being caught driving uninsured can affect every part of your life – a loss of your independence, an inability to care for dependents (such as taking your children to school), and even affected job prospects as a driving conviction can show up on background searches.

Here are a few easy mistakes worth double-checking:

• Forgotten when your insurance expires? Check your renewal date today.
• Assumed your policy auto-renews? Not all do, and expired payment cards can cause lapses.
• Kept a vehicle off the road without declaring it SORN with the DVLA? Make sure it’s officially off-road.
• Thought fully comprehensive cover lets you drive someone else’s car? It often doesn’t - check your policy first for coverage and any restrictions.
• Using your car for work or deliveries on a social-only policy? You’ll likely need commuting, business or hire-and-reward cover

To learn more about insurance mistakes and to check your insurance status, visit: mib.org.uk/DriveInsured