Everyone in the motor insurance industry would be concerned that fines imposed by the courts following uninsured driving have fallen by 25% (Comment, 6 July).
I am not sure where these stats come
from but presumably they relate to all IN10 offences. An IN10 is given for "using a vehicle uninsured against third party risks". Within these stats will be a number of more technical offences (such as an employee using a company car unaware of restrictions in use) where penalty points and a modest fine may be appropriate. The range of points is between six and eight, I believe.
A distinction needs to be made with the 'technical offences' against those individuals who refuse to insure their motor vehicles. Those who take a calculated risk and weigh up the savings that can be made over decades, perhaps, of not buying motor insurance, against the likelihood of a very low fine, if caught.
Thankfully prosecutions are on the increase and this will no doubt continue through a combination of technology and use of the motor insurance database. Perhaps what is needed is a new offence code for these habitual criminals that will enable the courts to apply much higher fines and more appropriate penalties.
This is a personal view rather than a company line.
Dave Ince
Motor underwriter
Royal & SunAlliance
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