Industry News from Yes Insurance

Uninsured drivers are to face tougher penalties under the new Road Safety Bill, which was recently granted Royal Assent.

Under the new rulings, offences such as causing death by driving while disqualified, uninsured or unlicensed will form part of the statute books.

There are also plans to bring in tougher penalties for people who speed or drive using a handheld mobile phone.

Transport minister, Stephen Ladyman, stated: "The new Road Safety Act plugs gaps in current legislation to stop drivers who kill walking away from court with just a fine.

"It clamps down on those who keep untaxed, uninsured or unroadworthy vehicles. It provides greater powers as we work to eradicate the scourge of drink-driving and puts in place measures to improve the training and testing of our young drivers"

Improvements to the bill arrive in the week that a fraud ring was discovered, where drivers with comprehensive car insurance, which allows them to drive any car, were used to pick up impounded vehicles taken from drivers without insurance.

Speaking on Tonight with Trevor McDonald, Mr Ladyman said: "It's been suggested to me that one person repatriated about 60 vehicles in this particular way.

"It is totally unacceptable and we have to have some conversations with the insurance industry about that to see if there’s anything they could do to help us."

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