2 weeks Ago
Bolton is one of the 'worst towns' for uninsured drivers according to latest figures. According to a freedom of information request to the DVLA, Bolton has the third-highest rates of uninsured drivers in the UK, with 2.59 drivers caught without insurance per 1,000 people.
In the past, Bolton police have launched operations to crackdown on uninsured drivers, including Operation Avro and Operation Portman. A total of 366 drivers were caught without insurance in the year leading to June 2024. Manchester tops the list of uninsured drivers, with a whopping 1,274 caught in the same period of time.
Nearby Oldham comes second, with 275, but with a much smaller population of 104,782 compared to Bolton's 141,331. Greater Manchester Police (GMP) is among the busiest forces when it comes to seizing uninsured vehicles. The number of drivers who received points for a lack of insurance in Greater Manchester, from June 2023 to June 2024 was 2,893, the fourth highest among authorities.
David Kottaun, Operations Manager at Scrap Car Comparison said: “Driving without insurance is a huge problem, and one that deserves to be treated severely as the implications can be incredibly costly. "Unfortunately, it’s often innocent drivers that are made to pay the price for others who are uninsured, as in the event of a crash they’d be unable to claim for any damage to their vehicle, potentially leaving them hugely out of pocket.” “However, that’s not to say that everyone who’s on the road without insurance is doing so deliberately; even the most law-abiding drivers can get caught out if they’re not careful.
From missing a renewal date to forgetting to sort insurance before picking up a new car, there are many reasons why people may unintentionally be falling foul of these laws. "Driving the car of a friend or family member is one common route to being penalised - many people assume that their comprehensive insurance covers them for ‘driving other cars’ when this isn’t always the case and is something that should be checked before getting behind the wheel of a borrowed vehicle. "It’s also worth noting that SORN-ed vehicles must still be insured when on a public road, even if they’re not being driven.
“Laws are there for a reason, and unfortunately whether it was an intentional rule-break or accidental, driving without insurance is both a crime and potentially very dangerous for all involved, so it’s always worth taking the time to double check policies and their dates to avoid any mishaps.”.
