Uninsured drivers warned 'cars will be crushed'

Record numbers of uninsured vehicles on UK roads are being seized and subsequently crushed according to new figures.

According to data from the Association of British Insurers (ABI), over 100,000 cars have been seized - largely using automatic number plate recognition - so far in 2007.

This is up from 78,000 in the whole of 2006.

Of the cars seized in 2007 some 45,000 have been crushed.

Speaking at the organisation's annual conference, Nick Starling, the ABI director of general insurance, said: "Uninsured drivers are a menace.

"They often drive unroadworthy vehicles, and the cost of compensating their victims adds an extra £30 a year to premiums paid by honest motorists.

"These figures show the determination of the insurance industry, and the police to drive them from our roads is beginning to bear fruit.

"However we need to ensure that the penalties they face reflect the seriousness of this crime."

His sentiments were echoed by Ashton West, group chief executive of the Motor Insurers' Bureau (MIB).

"The fight against uninsured drivers has now stepped up a gear, and we expect vehicle seizure numbers to increase over the coming months.

"Equally encouraging is the reduction in reported claims to the MIB, which were almost four per cent down on last year. On current trends the reduction is likely to be even greater by the end of 2007."