How many uninsured drivers are there in the UK? Image credit: AdobeStock
Did you know that there are roughly 1 million uninsured drivers on the roads in the UK? This is an alarming statistic because you could find yourself in a difficult situation if you end up in an accident only to discover that the driver does not have insurance, especially if they do a hit and run. This is incredibly frustrating as a motorist that abides by the law, so keep reading just in case you are unlucky enough to get into an accident with an uninsured driver.
If you are ever unlucky enough to get involved in an accident and the driver is uninsured, there are a few key steps that you should take. First, you need to get as many details as possible including their name, address, registration number and the make and model of the car. Taking photographs is a great idea if you are able to. If you are unable to do this as they take off after the accident, you can ask witnesses if you can have their contact details and report the hit and run driver to the police. There may also be CCTC camera footage or dash cam footage that you can use. You should also contact your insurance company at this time.
In these situations, the innocent driver will be compensated by the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB) provided that you yourself have valid insurance at the time of the accident.
Statistics show that someone has an account with an uninsured driver every three days in the UK. It also depends on where you are driving as East London has the highest number of uninsured drivers as a percentage of vehicles in the area and 5 of the top 10 places are all in the capital. The other areas with a high percentage of uninsured drivers are Liverpool, Bradford, Manchester, Oldham and Alford.
It is also a smart idea for motorists to take out PCP gap insurance for financial protection. If you end up in an accident and your car is written off, you will only receive the current market value from your comprehensive insurance policy. Cars depreciate by over 50% after just 3 years, which means that you could be short by a significant amount. Gap insurance bridges the gap between the payout and the amount originally paid or the amount left outstanding on the finance agreement.
Hopefully, you will never be in an accident involving an uninsured driver, but you do need to be prepared in case this ever happens so that you can hold them accountable for their actions. You should try to gather as much information as possible, including photographs, witness contact details and any footage of the accident and report them as quickly as possible.