RED TAPE WON''T SOLVE UNINSURED DRIVING SAYS SAFE SPEED
04 December 2004 - Safe Speed

The Government proposes to create a brand new offence of ''failing to renew your motor insurance''.

In a consultation document issued recently by the DfT, we learn of plans to further inconvenience legitimate and responsible motorists while criminal drivers remain outside of the system.

Paul Smith, founder of the Safe Speed road safety campaign
(www.safespeed.org.uk) commented: ''Why is it that the government''s attempts to improve our roads always seem to impinge largely on normal responsible motorists? We''re absolutely certain that under the proposed legislation the typical ''offender'' will be someone who is out of the country or in hospital when his motor insurance expires. Obviously it''s important that drivers are insured, but we need to catch those driving without insurance, not those who have no intention of driving.''

Paul continues: ''The problem with red tape solutions is that they cost a great deal and deliver very little benefit. In this case we might even be making matters worse by encouraging criminal drivers to move outside the system even further. After all this legislation cannot be applied if the registered keeper cannot be traced.''

Safe Speed''s recently published road safety manifesto proposes ending the uninsured driving nightmare by giving full consideration to including third party insurance for all within the cost of motor fuel.

''The beauty of our proposal,'' said Paul, ''is that it ends uninsured driving once and for all. It uses negligible resources and it frees up Police officers from the need to enforce insurance regulation. Police would have more time to concentrate on actual road dangers. This would be very positive for road safety. The system works right now in South Africa, and we must urgently investigate the effect of doing it here.

www.safespeed.org.uk

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