20-11-03

Barrett calls for car insurance discs

John Barrett, Scottish Liberal Democrat MP for Edinburgh West, today called on the Department of Transport to bring in a new law, requiring motorists to display a car insurance disc on their vehicle, similar to the road tax disc.

It is believed that 1 in 20 vehicles on UK roads are not insured, one of the highest levels in Western Europe.  It costs the insurance industry an estimated £400 million a year and approximately £30 a year for the average insured driver.

Mr Barrett has backed a House of Commons motion calling for new legislation, requiring all car drivers to display an insurance disc on their vehicle to try and tackle insurance violations.

In a statement, Mr Barrett, said:

"The vast majority of drivers in Edinburgh and the UK have car insurance to cover against accidents.  However, the minority of motorists who don't are causing increased insurance costs for the responsible majority.

"Requiring motorists to display a car insurance disc on their car, in a similar way to their road tax disc, could go a long way in reducing the numbers breaking the law.  The discs could be monitored in the same way as road tax with action taken against those found to acting illegally.  That way, the increased cost of insurance caused by uninsured drivers can be reversed."

ENDS

Notes to Editors

John Barrett is one of over 50 MPs who have signed Early Day Motion 1802 "Insurance Car Disc" which states:

That this House recognises the problems caused by drivers of cars involved in road traffic accidents who do not have insurance cover; calls on the Government to introduce legislation that requires all car drivers to display an insurance disc similar to the current road tax disc inside their vehicle; and believes that this could be monitored in the same way as car tax violation, would safeguard people involved in car accidents, and help reduce the spiralling cost of car insurance.