News & Info
New technology to target rise in uninsured drivers
29th April, 2024
As uninsured driver claims continue to rise, a new data sharing agreement between An Garda Síochána and the MIBI aims to tackle this serious driving offence.
According to new research released by The Motor Insurers’ Bureau of Ireland (MIBI), the number of claims related to accidents caused by drivers who were either uninsured or untraced rose a further 11% last year.
The research showed 1,927 claims were received during 2023, up 187 on 2022.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, David Fitzgerald, CEO of the MIBI said; “This jump of almost 200 claims due to accidents caused by uninsured vehicles should be a cause of concern for every law-abiding motorist in the country.”
“It is illegal to drive without valid motor insurance, yet as these figures show there are still a significant number of people who are willingly flouting the law.”
Last November, the MIBI began a data sharing agreement with An Garda Síochána. The MIBI now provides the insurance details for the 3 million vehicles using Irish roads on a daily basis to An Garda Síochána.
As a result, gardaí can now check the insurance status of any vehicle simply by scanning its registration plate.
Driving without insurance is a very serious offence. A person can be left at the side of the road and have their vehicle seized, as well as receive five penalty points and a mandatory court appearance, a fine of up to €5,000, or potential prison time for repeat offenders.
Mr Fitzgerald said up to 50 motorists are having their vehicles seized every day because they are driving without insurance.
However, he expressed an expectation that once people realise how easy it is to be detected and caught, it will start to change behaviours.
“We hope that as this new weapon begins to bite, it won’t be long before the number of uninsured claims we receive also begins to fall,” Mr Fitzgerald said.
If you’ve been involved in an accident involving an uninsured driver or untraced driver, there can be complications with making a claim. At Tracey Solicitors LLP, we always advise clients to consult with us if they have been involved in a road traffic accident, particularly if the driver who caused the accident was uninsured.
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