West Midlands named worst in UK for uninsured drivers hotspots

Eight of the top 15 postcodes where the highest number of uninsured drivers were found to be are in the West Midlands, with the B11 and B21 postcodes in Birmingham topping the list.

Also named in the top 15 were WV2 in Wolverhampton, B18, B8 and B33, all in Birmingham, WS4 in Walsall and CV7 in Solihull.

A group of campaigners in the region have voiced concern about the West Midlands' position as the worst place in the UK for uninsured drivers.

Better Street for Birmingham, who campaign to increase the sustainability, efficiency and safety of roads in the area, have said they are sadly unsurprised that the region topped the list.

Martin Price, Policy Lead at Better Streets for Birmingham, said: “It is not surprising that we have so many uninsured drivers on our region's roads.

“Police operations seize vehicles time and time again and they're just scratching the surface.

“There are some drivers who have no regard for anyone else which you can see examples of on every street.

“Too many people are killed and seriously injured on our region's roads, and we are glad that this is recognised.

“Somebody is killed every fortnight in Birmingham, causing Birmingham City Council to declare a road safety emergency.”

West Midlands Police are supporting Operation Drive Insured (Image: West Midlands Police) The data, which has been compiled by the Motors Insurer’s Bureau, was released to mark the annual ‘Operation Drive Insured’ campaign – a week-long road safety initiative that sees the MIB collaborate with all UK police forces to get uninsured drivers off the road.

West Midlands Police are supporting the campaign, saying their Roads Policing Unit (RPU) seize around 600 uninsured vehicles every month.

Gareth Mason, Head of West Midlands Police’s RPU, said: “Uninsured driving has a serious impact on lawful road users.

“Some statistics suggest that those driving without insurance are five times more likely to be involved in a serious collision or be involved in crime.

"This is why we work daily with our industry partners to use every tool at our disposal to identify, locate and prosecute uninsured drivers.”

He also said the force has recently made significant investments in the RPU, making sure officers have advanced technology and resources to target criminals on the roads.

He added: “This investment will allow us to increase our visibility, respond more effectively to incidents, and proactively target those who pose a danger to others.

“If you are caught driving without insurance, you face severe penalties, including fines, points on your licence, and the potential seizure of your vehicle.”

Leaders across the West Midlands also recently announced a new plan to tackle dangerous driving.

The Road Safety Action Plan, drawn up by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), outlines over 20 actions that will be implemented to make roads safer in the area, with one being to identify and remove more uninsured vehicles and drivers from the roads.

Better Street for Birmingham have said they welcome this plan but feel the measures outlined could have been stronger.