Police forces across the UK are on the hunt for those driving without motor insurance as part of a week-long initiative to catch uninsured drivers.

‘Operation Drive Insured’ is taking place during Road Safety Week and will see 45 forces interrogate the database from the Motor Insurers’ Bureau to crosscheck licence plates to see if they are insured.

Those who drive without insurance are more likely to cause collisions and according to the MIB also commit wider road crimes. In the past year alone MIB data has helped catch 100,000 uninsured drivers, and the crimes those who drive without insurance can cost the industry £400million every year. The total cost, including emergency services, medical care and damage to property could be as much as £2billion.

“Put simply, uninsured motorists are very dangerous. They cause a worryingly high level of collisions and are frequently involved in wider crime,” said Ben Fletcher, Chief Customer Officer at MIB.

“By using MIB's Motor Insurance Database police can easily see if a vehicle appears to have no insurance and will take swift action to remove the threat. Op Drive Insured serves as an important reminder that no one is above the law and illegal motorists will be caught.”

Road Safety Week is a wider campaign to raise awareness of road safety and comes at a time when MPs are debating whether to hand down tougher sentencing to hit and run drivers who cause fatalities. The maximum sentence for death by dangerous driving is 5 to 14 years.

“On the first day of National Road Safety Week, it is no coincidence this important debate is happening in Parliament, and no surprise the petition that preceded it has had so many signatures,” said Brake chief executive, Mary Williams OBE.

“There are an estimated 100 or more cases of hit and runs every day across the UK and those that result in deaths or serious injuries cause untold heartache to families, and also to the emergency services who can't get there in time to provide vital emergency care and save lives.

“Penalties for such appalling behaviour should be tough, making it clear to all drivers involved in crashes that it is vital to stay, call the emergency services, and help as much as possible.”

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