Searchlight - Letter of the month

The crackdown on uninsured drivers reported in Professional Broking (June 2005) has to be welcomed by the industry. However, while tougher penalties and improving methods of identifying the culprits will go some way to reducing numbers, they do nothing to address the public's perception of driving without insurance.

Quite simply, we need to demonise uninsured drivers in the eyes of the general public in the same way as drink drivers are. Unless uninsured driving is viewed as antisocial behaviour, we are not going to make any progress and it is up to us as an industry to take urgent action now.

If we fail to join forces and make the general public realise that uninsured driving has a direct financial impact on them - whether through loss of a no-claims bonus or, perhaps more relevant, the actual amount that it adds to their premiums - we will be fighting a losing battle and the efforts of the Motor Insurers' Bureau will be in vain.

Motor insurance is purchased predominantly on price, so why don't we make it clear at the point of every quote and on every policy how much of the premium is going towards paying for uninsured drivers by showing the cost of the MIB levy? This would bring home to the law-abiding public just how much this morally and legally indefensible behaviour is costing them.

Most drivers are unaware that they pay directly for uninsured drivers and feel it is a victimless crime - so, to show a charge of, say, £8 to cover this in their policies may help to start to change this view. If, as it appears, the consumer is only concerned about the cost of their policy, then surely this represents a simple and effective step to take?

If insurers have to resort to carrying the cost of crushing uninsured cars, the result will be a further hike in premiums and lead to more grumbling by the consumer, leading to more uninsured drivers.

Mike Smith, Head of sales and marketing, Link Underwriting Agency.