AS part of their continued commitment to road safety, Essex Police will be supporting Operation Drive Insured, a national campaign to target uninsured driving across the country.
A spokesperson said: “Alongside other forces, we will be working with partners MIB (Motor Insurers’ Bureau), the organisation that exists to protect people from the devastation of uninsured and hit-and-run drivers, as part of their annual week-long Operation Drive Insured campaign (11-17 November) to get uninsured drivers off our roads.
hroughout the campaign, our Roads Policing Unit officers will carry out targeted patrols at identified hotspots, using information supplied by MIB. Carrying out this vital work means that unsafe vehicles, those with no insurance, tax or MOT, and are the most dangerous on our roads, will be seized by officers.
“Together, Essex Police and MIB are committed to reducing uninsured driving, and here in Essex, our dedicated RPU officers have seized 3,089 uninsured vehicles in the first nine months of this year. In September, the monthly number of seized vehicles peaked at a staggering 406 vehicles, the highest month on record. However, we’re not complacent and know that this issue continues and that there are more uninsured vehicles, whether its vans, cars or motorbikes, that will be travelling across and through our county, putting other road users at risk”.
Head of Essex Police’s Roads Policing Unit, Mr Adam Pipe, said: “Uninsured driving is, sadly, not a standalone issue.
“That’s why we’re supporting Operation Drive Insured.
“When we stop an uninsured vehicle, it can often lead us to identify other offences such as drink and drug driving or stolen vehicles or property being transported across Essex.
“This multi-agency approach to the criminal use of our roads brings together a greater enforcement approach to tackling the issue that concerns our communities.”
The consequences of being caught driving uninsured can affect your day-to-day life and during Operation Drive Insured, intentionally uninsured drivers will receive a £300 fixed penalty notice and six points on their licence and can expect to have their vehicle seized.
MIB want to support law-abiding drivers by highlighting the most common insurance pitfalls.
Top tips to ensure your insurance remains valid are:
- Don’t assume your motor insurance policy is set to auto-renew.
- Check your payment method is still valid when your renewal is due.
- Don’t assume that fully-comprehensive cover allows you to drive someone else’s vehicle.
- Remember to SORN a vehicle if it is being taken off the road and not used.
- Check your insurance allows for the class-of-use required, such as commuting or making food or parcel deliveries.
If you’re not sure about your insurance status, check today for free: https://www.mib.org.uk/driveinsured
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